Surveillance footage allegedly showing Johnny Druskinis and Megan Minturn graffiting on the sidewalk in front of the University of Michigan’s Jewish Resource Center. Photo: Ann Arbor Police Department.

Editor’s note: The original version of this story reported that two student-athletes at the University of Michigan were disciplined by their teams for allegedly graffiting antisemitic and homophobic messages outside the school’s Jewish Resource Center (JRC). However, both the Ann Arbor Police Department and the JRC have released statements clarifying that the vandalism did not include any overt antisemitic symbols. This story has been updated to reflect that fact.

A University of Michigan athlete has been removed from the school’s men’s hockey team for graffiting a homophobic slur on the sidewalk in front of the campus’ Jewish Resource Center (JRC).

The Ann Arbor Police Department (AAPD) on Tuesday released a statement explaining that after a “thorough investigation,” they identified two suspects in connection with the incident, which occurred on Aug. 22. Specifically, the police said a male suspect spray painted a homophobic slur and male genitalia on the sidewalk of the JRC, while a female suspect spray painted her initials.

The watchdog group StopAntisemitism told The Algemeiner on Monday that sophomore and now-former Wolverines defenseman Johnny Druskinis was caught in the act of graffiting the message in broad daylight by a surveillance camera on the property. The group added that Druskinis was accompanied by a female companion, freshman lacrosse player Megan Minturn, noting that she has so far only been suspended and not removed from her team.

On Tuesday, The Michigan Daily, the university’s campus newspaper, also reported that the two students tied to the incident were Druskinis and Minturn. University spokesperson Rick Fitzgerald confirmed Druskinis’ removal from the hockey team roster to the paper, only saying the student violated team rules without elaborating.

The JRC released its own statement about the vandalism.

“The vandalism found at the JRC was offensive and disrespectful, but did not include any overt antisemitic symbols (like swastikas),” the statement read. “We have been in contact with those responsible and received a private apology, as well as a subsequent public apology. The public apology took place on Shabbat, in front of over 350 people. We deliberately chose Shabbat for the public apology, knowing it would not be recorded, and thus not contribute to further public attacks. We feel continued news coverage of this incident is unwarranted and unfortunate. From our perspective, it was put to rest weeks ago.”

The JRC declined to press charges against the two student-athletes.

News of the incident first broke in August, with the university denouncing an act of vandalism that occurred at the school’s Jewish Resource Center. The Ann Arbor Police Department then shared surveillance footage of it last month, calling on the community’s help in identifying the people caught on film. At the time of the footage’s release, AAPD Interim Police Chief Aimee Metzer expressed certainty about the general age of the suspects, saying, “They’re young adults, definitely.”

The University of Michigan did not respond to a request for comment for this story.

Follow Dion J. Pierre @DionJPierre.