California Couple Arrested For Using Nazi Salute, Yelling 'White Lives Matter' At Black Man, Girlfriend

A married couple in California was arrested on hate crime and vandalism charges for allegedly making a Nazi hand salute and yelling "only white lives matter" at a Black man and his girlfriend after involving in a road rage incident.

Gregory and Rachel Howell, both 29, were arrested Friday, July 31, on vandalism and hate crime charges, the Torrance Police Department said in a news release. According to the statement, Rachel allegedly got out of her car and hurled profanities at the victims while Gregory drew a shovel and hit the their vehicle as they drove away. Both were reportedly released on the same day after posting bail.

The incident happened July 22 when the Howells followed the victims’ car in a pick-up truck for several miles before blocking their way near a red light at the intersection of Artesia Boulevard and Prairie Avenue around 10:30 p.m. EDT in Torrance.

Itzel Lopez told KTLA she was in the passenger seat while her boyfriend, who is Black, was driving home from her birthday dinner when the suspects got out of their truck and approached their car. Lopez filmed the incident on her phone. Lopez's boyfriend's name was not revealed.

The cell phone video that she shared on her Instagram shows Rachel sticking out her middle fingers while shouting "all lives matter b****." She then yells "Only White lives matter" while Gregory is seen yelling "White power" and making a Nazi hand salute. The video shows Gregory retrieving a shovel from the back of the truck and approaching the victims’ vehicle. The victims later determined the driver’s side mirror of their vehicle was also damaged at some point during the scuffle.

"We were just in shock. We didn’t know what was going on," Lopez told KTLA. "Never in my life did I think I was going to experience this. It’s actually really scary. They don’t even know you and they’re willing to hurt you."

Lopez and her boyfriend filed a report with the Torrance police the following day, the police department said. Cops obtained arrest warrants for the couple the same day and were able to nab the pair a week later.