4 Glenelg Students Charged In Bias-Related Graffiti

GLENELG, MD — Three people were detained for questioning about hateful graffiti found Thursday morning at Glenelg High School, according to Howard County Police Chief Gary Gardner. The trio was taken to central booking for processing, he said at a noon press conference, adding more information would be revealed later.

After 3 p.m., police said that four Glenelg High School students had been charged. All are 18 years old and have been charged as adults with misdemeanor counts of destruction of property based on race, color, religious belief, sexual orientation or national origin, police said. A conviction may result in up to three years in prison, according to police.

These Glenelg students have been charged with multiple counts of property destruction, police reported:

• Seth Taylor, 18, of Mustang Path in Ellicott City
• Tyler Curtiss, 18, of Rivercrest Court in Brookeville
• Joshua Shaffer, 18, of Watkins Way in Mt. Airy
• Matthew Lipp, 18, of Daisy Road in Woodbine

Police said that Lipp was picked up at his home, while the others were at school.

The vandalism was described by police as racist, antisemitic and anti-LGBTQ. It was discovered Thursday morning as students and staff arrived on campus at 14025 Burntwoods Road.

"I'm extremely disturbed by what I saw today," Howard County Public School System Superintendent Michael Martirano said at a press conference Thursday afternoon.

"I have never seen this amount of graffiti at one school," Martirano added.

He said that staff covered it up with blankets and duct tape so people would not have to see it. Some of the hateful graffiti targeted the principal, he said.

"Make no mistake, this is a hate crime against so many of our communities and goes completely against the values we share as a community," Martirano said. "It is completely unacceptable and actions of this nature will not be tolerated in Howard County."

Resources to help people cope were made available at Glenelg Thursday morning, Martirano said.

"I was deeply troubled and disheartened to have learned this morning that Glenelg High School was vandalized overnight with graffiti that is hateful and sickening," Martirano said earlier in a statement.

"I know that many students and staff were troubled upon arriving at school this morning, and we are providing the necessary supports for anybody who needs them," the superintendent said. "...I ask all of Howard County today to join me in an effort to help our community heal. Be assured that individuals responsible for these acts will be held accountable."

This is breaking news and will be updated.

Main image of Glenelg High School via Google street view.