Eight days after two people sprayed graffiti across Main Street in Historic Buford, juveniles have been charged with criminal damage in the second degree and criminal trespass, the Gwinnett County Police Department said in a news release Wednesday, June 12.

The City of Buford called for assistance in finding the suspects on June 5. The juveniles sprayed graffiti – filled with racist language and hate speech – on a dumpster enclosure, street signs and a business at 50 Main St., according to the City of Buford and confirmed by the Gwinnett County Police Department. 

The incident occurred around 12:07 a.m. on June 4 when the juveniles were caught on surveillance cameras walking along E. Main St. The racist language was sprayed in an area where it could be seen by morning traffic, according to the Gwinnett County Police Department. A barrage of photos capturing the hate speech were later posted to public forums by observers. 

Due to Georgia Open Records laws, the juveniles’ identity cannot be released. The descriptors of the boys include one being a heavy-set male wearing yellow shorts with squares on them, black slides, a shirt wrapped around his head with a white face covering. The other male was described as tall, skinny, with a gray sweatshirt, mask and shorts while wearing Crocs and high-calf socks. 

The juveniles were arrested June 12.

“This costs our taxpayers money,” Buford director of public safety Dan Branch said. “It doesn’t reflect who we are as a city. This is very rare.”