A 14-year-old boy has been charged in a hate crimes investigation after a Brampton monument that honours victims of the Tamil genocide in Sri Lanka was vandalized, police say.
In a news release Thursday, Peel Regional Police said the Tamil Genocide Memorial at Chinguacousy Park was sprayed painted with derogatory messages. Police said they received reports of the vandalism on March 20.
The boy, from Brampton, was arrested and charged with two counts of mischief over $5,000 on March 31. He will be required to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at a later date.
Under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, the boy’s identity is protected and cannot be released.
“Peel Regional Police will not tolerate vandalism — especially hate-motivated crimes of spaces that are meaningful to our communities,” Peel Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah said in the release.
“People across the region have the right to feel safe in public spaces.”
Police said they recently launched their hate crime unit, a centralized unit designed to enhance police response to hate-motivated crimes and culturally sensitive incidents.
The monument was unveiled on May 10, 2025.