Newsletter
Newsletter Support JNS

Teens face multiple felonies after eight acts of vandalism in Florida

In the last two weeks, Pensacola saw a spate of swastika graffiti, coupled by bricks thrown through synagogue windows.

Pensacola Police Department vehicle in Florida. Credit: Courtesy.
Pensacola Police Department vehicle in Florida. Credit: Courtesy.
Pensacola Police Department vehicle in Florida. Credit: Courtesy.
Pensacola Police Department vehicle in Florida. Credit: Courtesy.

Three minors and one adult allegedly perpetrated a series of crimes in the last two weeks terrorizing the Jewish community of Pensacola, Fla. These included bricks with swastikas drawn on them thrown through synagogue windows and black swastikas spray-painted on a house.

Local law authorities arrested and charged Waylon Fowler, 17, Wyatt Fowler, 15, Nicholas Ferry, 16, and Kessler Ferry, 18, for the crimes.

The Fowlers received seven counts of felony criminal mischief, upgraded to a hate crime, as well as one count of misdemeanor criminal mischief and one charge of felony trespassing.

Nicholas Ferry received four counts of felony criminal mischief; Kessler Ferry received a single count of felony criminal mischief. Both charges were increased to hate crimes.

Other vandals potentially involved may also find themselves in handcuffs soon, police warned.

Pensacola Police Chief Eric Randall said, “We hope that these arrests can bring comfort and closure not only to those in our Jewish community, but to all citizens of this great city.”

“When journalists make these requests, they’re really made on behalf of the public, not to bury the issue and respond 11 months later,” Randy Mastro, a former deputy New York City mayor, told JNS.
“Under any Republican administration, Israelis are never going to be sanctioned for simply advocating against aid to Hamas or advocating against illegal Palestinian construction,” Eugene Kontorovich, a law professor, told JNS.
The USAID Inspector General’s office is “also working to prevent Hamas-linked staff from jumping to other aid organizations operating in Gaza,” a senior Trump admin official told JNS.
“Regardless of how it is ultimately classified, incidents like this send shockwaves through the Jewish community,” Rabbi Noah Farkas of Jewish Federation Los Angeles told JNS.
Prosecutors said the man caused damage to both facilities before sending texts boasting about the vandalism.
Despite Israeli objections to previously reported terms, the official said Washington is confident that all U.S. allies “will get on board” with the emerging agreement.