9/11 Memorial in lower Manhattan vandalized, graffitied with red paint

The memorial for the victims who died in September 11, 2001, terror attacks on the World Trade Center was painted with red graffiti this week an in a brazen and shocking act of vandalism just about six weeks after the U.S. paused to mark the 25th anniversary of one of the darkest days in American history. 

Police arrested a 31-year-old suspect who now faces charges of criminal mischief and making graffiti. Authorities say Johnathan Tijerina is the vandal who spray-painted a stretch of the memorial on Monday evening. 

Ed Duffy, a tourist visiting NYC from the U.K., said he witnessed the crime take place and told CBS News, "I saw somebody with red spray paint, and they sprayed 'Just stop killing kids' over some of the names." Duffy added that police moved in quickly for an arrest. "And then within, like, less than a minute, the police came and arrested him," he recalled.

“Juststopkillingkids.com,” is what authorities say Tijerina wrote in red paint across a seciton of the memorial bordering the North Tower reflecting pool. Tijerina allegedly posted video of himself spray-painting the memorial on Instagram as well as a selfie video recorded moments later in which he admits to committing the crime. He also said his motive was a recent mass shooting at a university in Florida. 

A photo posted on social media showed the memorial defaced with red paint. The 9/11 Memorial and Museums said in a statement that it was able to remove the paint and there was no permanent damage to the memorial.

“The 9/11 Memorial is a sacred place of reflection at the heart of a rebuilt World Trade Center that honors the 2,983 victims killed in the September 11, 2001 and February 26, 1993 terrorist attacks. Yesterday’s brief incident was swiftly addressed by security staff and law enforcement, and the impacted area was immediately restored to its commemorative state,” a spokesperson told CBS.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani hasn't commented on the vandalism to one of New York City's most hallowed sites, but he did make time to post a photo of himself canoodling with a seal on social media.