"But the suspect was actually caught in the act, and it turns out he was 19-year-old Lester Bamacajeronimo, a high school student who apparently did not realize what the Pink Triangle symbolized. In fact, the Bay Area Reporter notes that an attorney for the young Bamacajeronimo said he was embarking on an apparent prank in which he was using black spray paint in an attempt to turn the Pink Triangle into the symbol for the comic book hero Superman."
"That same Bay Area Reporter article does however note that Bamacajeronimo was charged with felony vandalism over the spray-paint job, as well as additional charges of possessing graffiti tools and resisting arrest. But no hate crime charges for vandalizing the LGBTQ symbol. DA Brooke Jenkins made that decision back in June just a couple days after the vandalism, telling the Bay Area Reporter at the time, he was unaware of what the pink triangle represented and he was trying to be artistic in modifying it."
A 19-year-old, Lester Bamacajeronimo, was arrested while spray-painting the Pink Triangle installation atop Twin Peaks during Pride Month. He faces felony vandalism charges plus counts for possessing graffiti tools and resisting arrest. Prosecutors chose not to pursue hate-crime charges after officials said he appeared unaware of the symbol's meaning. An attorney stated the act was an apparent prank intended to turn the triangle into a Superman emblem using black spray paint. A San Francisco judge ruled that charges will proceed. The materials suffered several thousand dollars in damage, likely paid by co-founder Patrick Carney.
Read at sfist.com
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