Multiple churches ‘burned and vandalized’ across US as cops investigate possible links to statue protests
A NUMBER of Catholic churches have been torched and vandalized in the US as cops investigate whether this is linked to the ongoing statue protests.
Houses of worship are being burned after George Floyd's police custody death in on May 25, which sparked widespread outrage and anti-racism rallies.
While all over the country, Christian statues are reportedly being vandalized and churches have been set on fire.
reported that firefighters and emergency responders fought the blaze for three hours as the ancient ceiling and roof began to cave in.
Steven Anthony Shields, 24, from Dunnellon allegedly poured gasoline in the foyer, set the building on fire, and drove off, as per the Marion County Sheriff's Office.
He was arrested and charged with attempted murder, arson, burglary, and evading arrest.
Shields described the incident as "awesome," saying he was on a "mission" as he smiled and laughed, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by the Ocala Star-Banner.
He cited issues with the Catholic Church but Shields also reportedly has schizophrenia and isn't taking his medication.
Nevertheless, Mass was celebrated Saturday and Sunday, local outlets said, despite the damage to the foyer.
Harmony Baptist Church was burned to the ground at 11.22 pm on July 5, according to Johnson County Fire Protection District.
It took over two hours for firefighters from four stations and 50,000 gallons of water to get a handle on the raging blaze, which caused between $400,000 and $500,000 of damage.
Security camera footage shows the arson suspect parking outside and then entering the building before setting the building alight, local reports said.
“The loss of the historic church will have a lasting effect on the rural community and members of the church," Fire Chief Larry Jennings told The Sun.
reported that the statue is located outside St Peter’s Parish in Boston’s Dorchester neighborhood.
Police responded to a fire on Bowdin Street at around 10 pm on July 11.
The statue of Mary sustained heavy damage after an unknown individual set fire to the plastic flower's in the statue's hands.
This caused smoke and flame damage to the face, head, and upper body of the statue.
The NYPD confirmed that they are investigating the vandalization of the statue, which occurred shortly after 3am on Friday, July 10.
On the security footage, someone can be seen approaching the 100-year-old statue and spray painting the word across it, before fleeing the scene.
The NYPD have appealed to the public for help in identifying the culprit of this "criminal mischief incident."
Rector and president of Cathedral Prep Fr James Kuroly told The Sun this vandalism was “an act of hatred" on Tuesday.
"I don't think there's a connection per say [with the protests] like it's organized," he said.
"I do think it's where we are as a society and as a country where there has been so much division and so much focus on what separates us and when we focus on that division, it leads to ignorance and it leads to acts of hatred.
"It really does symbolize the state of affairs that we are in right now as a society," he added. "There has certainly been an outpouring of support [from the local community]."
Anyone with information about the spray painted statue should call the Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782), submit their tips on their , on Twitter @NYPDTips, or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.