A gay pride flag hanging at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church was burned. Multiple alleged members of racial gangs Southern Sons, Vinlanders Social Club, and Firm 22 were arrested
David Pagava, 19, Ethan Purcell, 18, Alexander Hare, 21, Joseph Webb, 22, and Tristan Somerson, 19, were arrested on January 21, 2026 in Charlotte, NC. The men are accused of being in white supremacist street gangs identified as Southern Sons, Vinlanders social Club, and Firm 22. Follow Charlotte Alerts on Instagram.
The men were at a protest with guns when cops arrested them for unknown reasons. A search warrant was used on some of the suspects’ phones which showed video of hate crimes.
The group is accused of going to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in a truck and stealing a gay pride rainbow flag that was on display at the church in September 2025.
The flag was then taken to a back yard group meeting where the suspects are accused of burning the flag and making anti gay speeches.
A juvenile was with the alleged hate group, the members are accused of using violence to advance the hate group’s objective.
A pastor at the church called police the next day when she noticed the gay pride flag was missing.
Some of the members are accused of going to Northlake Memorial Gardens cemetery in Huntersville, NC and kicking down a grave stone of a jewish man that was in the U.S.A Army, while yelling “White Fucking Power” and doing a Sieg heil Nazi salute.
The men were arrested on January 21, 2026 charged with solicit gang activity, felony conspiracy, and contributing to delinquency of juvenile.
