Sylmar, CA - Jewish Cemetery Damage Seen As Hate Crime

Sylmar, CA - The Los Angeles Sheriff's detectives are investigating vandalism at a Jewish chapel in a Sylmar cemetery Saturday as a hate crime.

A groundskeeper contacted authorities after discovering the damage at the Glen Haven Memorial Park and Mortuary, 13017 Lopez Canyon Road, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Sgt. Don Bee said.
A menorah in Sholom Memorial Park's chapel was smashed, pews were knocked over and several caskets were pulled from a storage area and vandalized overnight, Bee said. A casket with a body in it was left alone.
The vandal also emptied several fire extinguishers into the chapel and left "gang-style" graffiti on the sidewalk and curb outside the Christian area of the cemetery. Empty beer bottles and the drained fire extinguishers were also left behind, Bee said.

The incident is being investigated as a hate crime because the vandals did not damage the Christian chapel, Bee said.