Sussex Pride responds to hate crime in Rehoboth Beach

REHOBOTH BEACH – After announcing that six people, five juveniles and Jerome Charleston, 21, of Bridgeville, have been charged with hate crimes following an incident early Saturday morning, Sussex Pride issued a statement.

“We want to thank the Rehoboth Police Department for their quick response to this crime and for enforcing the Hate Crimes Law,” said David Mariner, executive director, in a press release. “It is important to recognize the role that hate plays and the impact it has on our community.”

Rehoboth Beach police allege that five unidentified Rehoboth Beach juveniles got out of a car driven by Mr. Charleston, approached three women, harassed them and eventually shot them with an airsoft gun.

These weapons fire plastic bullets, can cause serious injuries and, depending on the model, look like their deadlier counterparts.

After firing shots, the teens fled the scene but were later picked up by Dewey Beach police and arrested without incident, police said.

“We have seen a clear pattern in the last four presidential campaigns. The number of reported hate crimes always increases during these periods,” Mariner said.

For more information on reporting hate bias or violence, visit: sussexpride.org/posts/reporthate. Contact the Delaware Anti-Violence Project, which works to reduce violence against LGBTQ people and support LGBTQ survivors in Delaware. For more information, visit sussexpride.org/antiviolence.