12-6-2018
BELLINGHAM, Wash. — The Western Washington University student suspected of writing racist, homophobic and sexually violent graffiti around campus is now also charged with a hate crime.
20-year-old Shayne Robert Merwin is charged with felony malicious harassment, a hate crime in the state, and a felony burglary charge.
Court documents show Merwin and three others found a key fob and entered Nash Hall at night without permission.
Two young women who entered the hall with Merwin told police they saw him write racist graffiti on name tags and police say Merwin admitted to writing the various terms after he was arrested.
He is set to be arraigned Friday.
At this point, the other people who entered the hall with Merwin don’t appear to face charges.