An armed robber wearing a “Day of the Dead”-type mask, who held up a Wells Fargo Bank, may be charged with cultural appropriation, in addition to bank robbery.
According to a press release by the Santa Monica Police Department, on Sept. 10, a man wearing a hooded sweatshirt, gloves, and a skull mask similar to one that represents the Mexican holiday, entered a Wells Fargo location in the beachside Los Angeles suburb.
Holding a shotgun, the man demanded cash in amounts varying between $3,000 and $5,000, and ran, jumping an 8-foot fence outside. According to the Santa Monica Observer, a witness said the robber jumped into a red SUV waiting in an alley.
Eighty police officers from neighboring towns Beverly Hills and Inglewood and from Los Angles county, including the sheriff’s department, also responded to the scene, reported the Santa Monica Observer.
No one was injured in the robbery. Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) are searching for the suspect, who is also wanted for bank robbery and assault.
Social media erupts over Mamdani’s silence after Brooklyn coffee shop bans Jewish congressman
MLB Issues Unexpected Response on Players With Bible Verses on Uniforms, Says They Will Never Be Fined
Air traffic control audio captures tense moment two planes nearly collided at Boston Logan Airport
Foreign Born Biden Judge Named ‘Sparkle’ Strikes Down Trump Database to Purge Illegal Voters Because It Purges Voters
Swalwell pal accused of using campaign cash to bankroll ‘luxury lifestyle’ — including Super Bowl tickets
Savannah Guthrie pleads for tips as ransom note claims mom is dead: ‘Somebody knows something’
Zohran Mamdani tries to remake the Big Apple’s congressional delegation
Music Library Curator’s Career Hits High Note with Discovery of ‘New’ Mozart Manuscript
Trump endorses John James in Michigan governor race as GOP rival exits primary
GRAPHIC: One of the Absolute Worst Rape Gang Incidents Involved Baseball Bat, Hot Brand, Red Ball, and Special ‘Pump,’ But Never Made It Into the Report
A tale of two parties: Trump, Mamdani put political clout on the line as four states hold primaries
Why Britain’s prime ministerial doom loop will continue until immigration reform is fixed
Connecticut dad jumped to his death during concert at Madison Square Garden in NYC: report
Coast Guard helicopter crashes during Alaska training mission, injuring four crew members
BREAKING: Heartbreak in Nancy Guthrie Case as Note Believed to Be from Kidnappers Confirms She Is Dead
A representative of the Santa Monica Police Department did not respond to Yahoo Lifestyle’s request for comment. “Use of a Day of the Dead Mask during a robbery can be a separate offense or an enhancement, under the California Penal Code,” a police spokesperson said in a press release, per the Observer. “In this case, the suspect is sought for violating the rights of indigenous peoples, and for bank robbery.”
A spokesperson from Wells Fargo tells Yahoo Lifestyle, “We are working with law enforcement and are unable to provide more details as this is an ongoing criminal investigation. Wells Fargo values and promotes diversity and inclusion in all aspects of business at all levels. We do not tolerate racism, cultural appropriation or discrimination of any kind.”
The Day of Dead, a holiday that lasts between October 31 and November 2, is a celebratory period for Mexican people to honor those who have passed on. Toy company Mattel is currently selling a “Barbie Día de Muertos” (retail price: $75) that some reportedly tweeted appropriated Mexican culture.
Story cited here.
