Over the last week, Mercer Island School District officials provided an update on the recent antisemitic and racist vandalism, and the Island’s mayor and deputy mayor issued a statement on the hate-based incidents.

In the case of the graffiti located at Islander Middle School (IMS) on Jan. 1, the district said that the two identified juveniles don’t live on or attend schools on the Island.

“One suspect has been arrested and charges are pending with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. The second suspect has been identified but is currently not residing in Washington,” the letter to the community reads.

As noted in a previous Reporter article, the Mercer Island Police Department (MIPD) said they referred charges to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and haven’t released the suspects’ names or other details because they are minors. MIPD received tips and information from the public after it issued a press release on Jan. 10 with the male suspects’ photos lifted from surveillance at IMS.

They weren’t certain how many tips they received on Jan. 10.

Police further said about the incident: “There were swastikas and messages that were disparaging towards many different races.”

The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office echoed the police press release that the case was referred to their office and was being reviewed.

“It’s being reviewed both by the chief of our Juvenile Division and the senior deputy prosecuting attorney who works full time on hate crimes. King County prosecutors anticipate a charging decision in the Mercer Island case the week of January 27,” said Casey McNerthney, director of communications of the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

In another incident, two swastikas were discovered in IMS bathrooms on Jan. 6 and 7.

“While this remains unresolved, we want to assure you that we are committed to a safe, inclusive environment for all students and staff. Our school and MIYFS (Mercer Island Youth and Family Services) counselors have been meeting with students when needed, staff have reset norms and retaught expectations, and additional supervision in the hallways was added following these two internal instances,” reads the district letter, which is signed by Superintendent Fred Rundle, IMS co-principals Mary Jo Budzius and Aaron Miller and IMS associate principals Becky Mullvain and Katie Gallagher.

Mayor Salim Nice and Deputy Mayor Dave Rosenbaum’s joint statement notes that they commend MIPD’s swift and diligent efforts to investigate the vandalism and they are heartened that residents, local organizations and faith groups, school teachers and staff join together against hate.

“Mercer Island is proud to be home to many Jewish institutions and a vibrant Jewish community. Antisemitism has no place here, and we stand firmly in solidarity with our Jewish neighbors against hate and intolerance,” Nice and Rosenbaum wrote.