Miami-Dade teenagers Michael Derek Lobo and Juan Carlos Gonzalez-Vaca, both aged 17, were arrested on Thursday at Killian Senior High School, where both youths go to school. Both boys are charged with smashing two of the mosque's windows with an iron rod and slashing the tires of a 2003 Dodge van. Upon his arrest, Gonzalez-Vaca admitted to police officers that the two teens had been planning the attack for months. The teen also made several anti-Islamic statements, such as "all Muslims are terrorists." Lobo also confessed to the crime upon his arrest, Miami criminal defense attorney Musca has learned. Police reported that the teens additionally spray-painted an expletive on the mosque that was directed toward Muslims. The case was solved in part due to a tip to an anti-crime hotline from a citizen whose identity has not yet been made public. The incident was also caught on a surveillance tape at the mosque, but officials said that the tape was of little value because it was hard to see the suspects in the dark.
Both teens are charged with criminal mischief to a mosque, with an enhanced penalty for demonstrating prejudice and wearing a mask while committing the offense. Police have reported that this is not the first time that the mosque has been targeted for attack. Six months ago, the mosque was damaged when perpetrators shot 51 bullets at the location, in a case that is still under investigation. FBI officials have reported that they cannot label the mosque shooting a hate crime until they have a suspect. There was also a June 2005 incident where unknown suspects used a rock to smash the door of the center as well as a 2004 incident where the mosque's sign was defaced with a swastika. Police have not made any arrests in any of these prior incidents.
