Overview
- The eight-foot bronze statue installed to mark Kirk’s one-year anniversary was found smeared with red paint early Sunday, with paint concentrated on the face and neck and a frowning face drawn on the torso.
- Phoenix police taped off the site, opened an investigation and have not announced any arrests or suspects as of the latest reports.
- Turning Point USA said it is reviewing overnight surveillance footage, cooperating with law enforcement, has cleaned or will restore the statue, and has discussed moving the memorial indoors for added security.
- The statue, created by Utah sculptor Quintin McCann and unveiled on Sept. 10, shows Kirk in his “FREEDOM” T-shirt and a cross necklace and stood beside a Christian memorial sign that vandals crossed out and replaced wording with hostile markings.
- Supporters and Republican officials including Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, condemned the vandalism as politically and religiously motivated, and the episode adds to a recent pattern of contested memorials as the accused shooter’s case moves toward pretrial proceedings on Oct. 23.