Video released of Midtown Pride flag vandalism, some teens identified

ATLANTA - Atlanta police say they may be charging a group of teenagers accused of vandalizing multiple Pride flags in Midtown with a hate crime.

Authorities say the vandalism happened at around 1:40 a.m. Tuesday at Blake's On the Park on 10th Street near Piedmont Avenue during the last week of Pride Month.

What we know:

Authorities say the flags were hanging by the front of the bar near the city's Rainbow Crosswalks before the group of juveniles damaged them.

According to investigators, the group took photos and videos of themselves cutting the flags up with a knife.  Officials tell FOX 5 that the group left the scene on scooters after police responded to reports of a disturbance. Four of the six were later caught by officers.

Authorities have identified three of the four that were taken into custody as Dallas residents 18-year-old Logan Matthison, 17-year-old Geami Mccarroll, and 18-year-old Ahmed Mechkouri. The fourth is a 16-year-old from Taylorsville.

Investigators say that the group coordinated and drove to Atlanta to commit the act. The four in custody are now charged with obstruction, criminal damage to property, conspiracy, and prowling with a pending charge of a hate crime.

Aaron Petus, the father of the arrested 16-year-old, was cited for failing to supervise his son.

According to the arrest warrants for the group, Mechkouri reportedly told police that he, McCarroll, and Mathison decided to come to Atlanta to ride scooters. He also told police that once they arrived in Atlanta, they met up with another group of teens and began riding scooters together in the downtown area.

When they arrived at 10th Street and Piedmont, Mechkouri told police that he and McCarroll continued to ride around, but the other four individuals began to cut up a Pride flag. Mechkouri also told police that he heard the teens using slur words. The report says that Mechkouri denied taking or posing for photos with the vandalized flag, but all six suspects were reportedly seen on surveillance video doing so.

McCarroll told a similar story, except he claimed that the other group of three started following them around.

Mathison also told police a similar story and admitted that he recorded the flag being cut, but then deleted it because he did not want to be affiliated with the crime.

Police also spoke to the unidentified 16-year-old, who admitted to riding with the older teens to Atlanta. He told police that they weren't used to seeing things like Pride flags. Additionally, he admitted to having a knife in his possession and cutting up a flag, saying he did not think it would be such a big deal and require so much police attention. The 16-year-old also admitted that he intentionally left his phone at home so that his location could not be tracked. These statements led police to believe that the actions by the teenagers were planned. 

None of the teens were able to say exactly where the flags came from. They just knew the flags came from a building.

What they're saying:

FOX 5 Atlanta spoke to residents of the area who were shocked by the incident. 

"This is a really open and accepting community. And to come here and actively do a hate crime, during pride month, where, you know, everyone is supposed to feel the most safe, it it feels just vulgar," Julia Tracy said. 

"It's daunting. It's scary for my safety. For my partner. Safety. We live up the street, about seven doors down. There's a lot of reasons to be scared, but, you know, being gay now, especially, we thought it was all over and all good. And now all of a sudden, it's gotten really bad," Kevin Bergen told FOX 5 Atlanta.

Atlanta Pride sent the following statement:

Atlanta Pride condemns the vandalism of Pride flags outside Blake’s on the Park, a long-standing LGBTQ+ establishment in Midtown. This was a targeted act intended to harm and intimidate our community.

As we prepare to celebrate 55 years of Atlanta Pride this October, under the theme "Rooted in Resistance," we remain focused on safety, visibility, and solidarity. Incidents like this remind us that the fight for dignity, equality, and respect continues.

We are grateful to the community member who reported the incident and to the Atlanta Police Department for their swift response. We support full accountability for those responsible. In today’s world, it is more important than ever to reach across differences and help others understand who we are. We want to see love and respect for the LGBTQ+ community — and we know that starts with extending those same values outward. Atlanta Pride invites the individuals involved and others seeking to learn to attend this year’s Festival and experience the strength, diversity, and humanity of our community.

We will always stand strong together.

What's next:

Police are still looking for the other individuals who were involved. They are releasing video to the public and asking for their help in identifying the teens. 

Anyone with information on this case can submit a tip anonymously to the Crime Stoppers Atlanta tip line at 404-577-TIPS (8477), online at www.StopCrimeAtl.org, or by texting CSGA.

 Persons do not have to give their name or any identifying information to be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000.

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