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Two 13-year-old boys are suspected of assault and a hate crime after they allegedly threw fireworks and shouted homophobic remarks at a crowd gathered Wednesday night for a Pride event in downtown Redwood City.
Police said one of two victims of the assault suffered minor injuries, and that part of the attack was captured on video surveillance.
The incident happened during setup for the Celebrate Redwood City Pride event at Courthouse Square, located at 2200 Broadway. Police, who responded shortly before 6 p.m., said one of the two victims sustained minor injuries and that part of the attack was captured on video surveillance.
“The act of hate and violence is unacceptable and deeply troubling. Redwood City does not tolerate hate in any form,” Mayor Elmer Martínez Saballos said in a statement. “We are committed to being a safe, welcoming, and inclusive community for all. What happened last night is not reflective of our values. We will continue working with law enforcement, community leaders, and residents to ensure Courthouse Square and every space in our city is a place of safety, respect and belonging.”
The city noted that Pride Month in Redwood City is intended to “uplift the LGBTQIA+ community and celebrate diversity, inclusion and equity,” and said it remains committed to ensuring that all events are safe and welcoming.
The suspects fled before police arrived, but later that evening, one of them was located. On Thursday, the second was found, police said. Both were taken to the San Mateo County Youth Services Center.
Anyone with additional information about the case is encouraged to contact the Redwood City Police Department at (650) 780-7100.
The Redwood City Pulse Staff contributed to the report.
