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White students were shown in a video that went viral shouting the n-word at African-American students, then laughing on Friday, Oct. 11 in the parking lot near the Charter Oak Apartments.
An investigation into the incident and video led to the arrests of Jarred Mitchell Karal, of Plainville, and Ryan Gilman Mucaj, of Granby, both 21, who are facing a criminal charge of ridicule on account of creed, religion, color, denomination, nationality or race.
If convicted of the charge, the two will face up to a year in prison. They are scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday, Oct. 30.
“The investigation showed that the males walked back through the apartment complex after leaving a local business and played a game in which they yelled vulgar words,” according to police. “As they walked through the parking lot, Mucaj and Karal switched to saying a racial epithet that was heard by witnesses. The investigation revealed the third male did not participate.”
A video of the three was taken and later posted on social media, where it went viral. One student reportedly said the incident has "put everybody on edge" as this has happened twice. The student who recorded the video is calling on the students to be expelled.
According to reports, Karal told police the small group was playing a game involving them shouting vulgar words that then turned over to them shouting racial terms. Mucaj told the police that he had drinks at an area bar earlier that evening and did not remember the incident.
“It is supportive of our core values to pursue accountability, through due process, for an egregious assault on our community that has caused considerable harm,” UConn President Thomas Katsouleas said. “I’m grateful for the university’s collective effort in responding to this incident, especially the hard work of the UConn Police Department, which has been investigating the case since it was reported.”
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