Justice Department probing vandalism of Catholic school in California
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The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division announced Monday that it has opened an investigation following the break-in and destruction of a Catholic school in Long Beach, California.
“@CivilRights will launch an investigation into this horrific crime,” Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon said on X.
School officials said that the sacrament was committed after the assembly hall, chapel and classrooms of the Holy Innocents Catholic School were entered.
Statues were smashed, images of Mary and other religious figures were destroyed, a photo of the pope was knocked to the ground, images of destruction are visible.
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The assembly hall, chapel and classrooms of the Holy Innocents Catholic School were broken into and the sacraments were vandalized. (KTTV)
According to Fox 11, the vandalism involves defecating on school grounds as well as leaving behind partially consumed food and drinks, allowing authorities to conduct DNA tests while searching for suspects.
Local police and the FBI were contacted regarding the incident.
Investigators said the church suffered an estimated $100,000 in damage due to the break-in, Fox 11 reported.
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Investigators said the church suffered an estimated $100,000 in damage from the break-in. (KTTV)
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Church members said they were heartbroken after learning of the desecration.
Cyril Cruz, principal of Holy Innocents, told Fox 11: “There are crosses. There are statues of the Blessed Mother. The temple itself was taken and thrown to the ground, and the Holy House is there. To me, that’s more traumatizing than anything. It’s not just the material things. It’s the heart behind everything.” Holy Innocents principal Cyril Cruz added to Fox 11: “Evil is out there, so we need to pray.”
Church members said they were heartbroken after learning of the desecration. (KTTV)
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A GoFundMe started to support the school had raised nearly $60,000 as of Tuesday morning.
“Multiple perpetrators appear to have destroyed statues of the Virgin Mary, destroyed paintings and other statues, and destroyed the tabernacle…Bishop Mark Trudeau said this was the worst case of vandalism he has ever seen in the area,” the fundraiser said.
