Charlie Kirk statue defaced with red paint, Jesus crossed out days after 1-year mark of assassination
Vandals smeared bright red paint across a newly unveiled statue of Charlie Kirk and defaced a Christian tribute outside Turning Point USA’s Phoenix headquarters early Sunday, just three days after the memorial was installed.
Images from the scene show red paint streaked across the eight-foot statue’s face and neck, with a crude frowning face drawn across its chest.
A sign at the base of the statue bearing Kirk’s image and the words "Jesus defeated death so you can live" was also targeted.
The word "Jesus" and an image of a cross appeared to be crossed out, while "Satan" was apparently scrawled across the display.
REMEMBERING CHARLIE KIRK: TURNING POINT USA'S ANDREW KOLVET REFLECTS ON CONSERVATIVE GROUP'S CHALLENGING YEAR Phoenix police confirmed to Fox News Digital that the department began receiving calls around 8:09 a.m. reporting vandalism to a memorial in the area of 4900 East Beverly Road.
"Officers have responded to the location, and the incident is under investigation," police said.
No arrests or suspect descriptions had been announced as of Sunday afternoon.
"This morning we woke up to radical criminals vandalizing our headquarters," Turning Point USA Chief Operating Officer Tyler Bowyer wrote on social media.
"Crossing over Charlie’s face, scratching out Jesus and the Cross and spraying red paint on his neck." "This isn’t the country we want to live in," Bowyer added.
"Arizona is not Gotham." INSIDE CHARLIE KIRK’S EFFORT TO DEVELOP THE NEXT GENERATION OF CONSERVATIVE VOICES Bowyer, who went to the headquarters as police investigated, said TPUSA was prepared to clean the memorial as soon as authorities released the scene.
"God bless the police as they investigate the violent thugs who did this," Bowyer wrote.
TPUSA also released video showing the damage and encouraged its supporters to vote ahead of the midterm elections.
"Hate cannot win," the organization wrote.
"The radical Left is showing up to vote.
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