Queens statue defaced with anti-religious graffiti in early morning hate crime
Queens, NY — A statue in Astoria was vandalized with spray-painted anti-religious messages in an early morning incident now being investigated as a hate crime, police said.
The incident occurred around 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 21, in front of 36-25 11 Street within the confines of the 114th Precinct. According to NYPD Crimestoppers, an unidentified individual used spray paint to deface the statue and write anti-religious remarks at the location.
The individual fled the scene following the act and remains unidentified. No description of the suspect has been released.
The investigation is ongoing as authorities work to identify the person responsible for the vandalism.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the NYPD Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or, for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). Tips can also be submitted online or through the department’s social media platforms.
Key Points
- Statue defaced with anti-religious graffiti in Queens
- Incident occurred early morning on March 21 in Astoria
- Suspect fled and remains unidentified