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Authorities investigating possible racist graffiti hoax

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Chuck Ross Investigative Reporter
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A Massachusetts woman claimed that racist graffiti was spray-painted on her family’s home last month, but it may have been a hoax, according to a police affidavit.

The affidavit was first published by the Sentinel & Enterprise newspaper of Fitchubrg

Andrea Brazier, the mother of 13-year-old Isaac Phillips called police on November 15 to report a spray-painted message she discovered on the back side of her family’s home. which read “Knights Don’t Need N*****.”

Phillips is of mixed race. His father, Anthony Phillips, is black. Brazier is white. The younger Phillips formerly played on Lunenburg High School’s freshman football team. The Lunenburg school mascot is a Knight.

But now, according to comments made Wednesday by Lunenburg police, Brazier is now considered a “strong suspect” in the case.

A search warrant filed by Lunenburg police shows that authorities recovered two cans of spray paint from the family home. Police noted on their search warrant that they were searching for any materials that may have been used during the painting as well as samples of Brazier’s handwriting.

Authorities became suspicious when, shortly before Thanksgiving, according to the affidavit, Brazier said that she no longer wanted the investigation to continue. She said she painted over the graffiti and wanted to move on from the incident.

But authorities said that they were going to get to the bottom of the case.

“Andrea was told by a FBI agent that she wanted the investigation to stop because she was the one who spray painted the graffiti on her house and Andrea stated ‘OK,'” reads the affidavit.

When the FBI asked Brazier if her husband or her son painted the message, she said that they did not, according to the report. Authorities moved forward with their search of the Phillips home and recovered the cans of spray paint.

The allegation affected Lunenburg, which has about 10,000 residents. A vigil was held to condemn the racist act, and Lunenburg school superintendent Loxi Jo Calmes cancelled the high school football team’s remaining schedule.

Lunenburg police chief James Marino said “I would go so far as to say that I’m confident a football player wasn’t involved,” according to WCVB Boston.

The team was forced to forfeit the rest of their games as authorities conducted an investigation.

Days after the incident was reported, CNN host Piers Morgan interviewed the elder Phillips and Brazier. The host bashed members of the football team, calling them “horrible little bullies.”

“And the reality is there’s somebody somewhere — knows who did this and they need to come forward,” said Martin, who told the student’s parents that someone needed to “expose them as the gutless little cowards that they are because what they did to your son was frankly utterly disgusting.”

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