Current:Home > MyA vandal badly damaged a statue outside a St. Louis cathedral, police say -GrowthProspect
A vandal badly damaged a statue outside a St. Louis cathedral, police say
View
Date:2025-04-16 23:34:50
ST. LOUIS (AP) — A man used construction equipment to drop a heavy boom lift onto a sculpture that has stood for 25 years outside St. Louis’ Cathedral Basilica, badly damaging it, police said.
It wasn’t immediately clear whether the Angel of Harmony, which stood 14 feet (4.3 meters) tall and depicts a Black angel protecting three children of various races, could be saved. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that part of one of the children was broken off and the angel’s wings appeared to be damaged.
The motive for Tuesday night’s vandalism was unknown, said police, who arrested a 35-year-old suspect.
The Angel of Harmony, created by Polish sculptor Wiktor Szostalo, was installed in 1999, months after Pope John Paul II’s visit to St. Louis. The angel’s wings include more than 100 wind chimes and the children are playing instruments. The pedestal is inscribed with quotes from the New Testament, Pope John Paul II and Martin Luther King Jr.
“The Angel of Harmony has graced the grounds of our city’s Cathedral Basilica since 1999, as a joyful reminder that our diversity is something to be celebrated, that truth, beauty and goodness unite us all,” St. Louis Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski said in a statement. “We need to be reminded of that daily. We are still learning about the extent of the damage, with great hope that this special sculpture can be restored.”
Police arrived at the ornate Catholic cathedral in St. Louis’ Central West End neighborhood after a caller reported that a man was tampering with construction equipment. The statue had been knocked off its pedestal. Police said the suspect also apparently fired a gunshot into an unoccupied car. It was not clear why.
Surveillance video helped point officers to the man. Officers spotted the him, but he ran off. A police dog helped find the suspect hiding a few blocks from the cathedral.
veryGood! (19739)
Related
- Intellectuals vs. The Internet
- Oprah Winfrey Influenced Me To Buy These 31 Products
- Gov. Sanders deploys Arkansas National Guard to support southern border control efforts
- Kris Jenner’s Sister Karen Houghton Dead at 65
- The Daily Money: Spending more on holiday travel?
- Rapper Phat Geez killed in North Philadelphia shooting, no arrests made yet, police say
- March Madness expert picks: Our bracket predictions for 2024 NCAA women's tournament
- The Fed is meeting this week. Here's what experts are saying about the odds of a rate cut.
- Google unveils a quantum chip. Could it help unlock the universe's deepest secrets?
- How to catch and what to know about Netflix's new NFL series 'Receiver'
Ranking
- At site of suspected mass killings, Syrians recall horrors, hope for answers
- Man falls to his death from hot-air balloon in Australia, leaving pilot and passengers traumatized
- Why Nicki Minaj’s New Orleans Concert Was Canceled Hours Before Show
- Feds propose air tour management plan for Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Nevada and Arizona
- Finally, good retirement news! Southwest pilots' plan is a bright spot, experts say
- Alito extends order barring Texas from detaining migrants under SB4 immigration law for now
- Selling Sunset's Bre Tiesi Looks Unrecognizable With New Blonde Transformation
- Missing student Riley Strain talked to officer night he vanished, body cam footage shows
Recommendation
Skins Game to make return to Thanksgiving week with a modern look
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Dust-up
Watch Orlando Bloom Push Himself to the Limit in Thrilling To The Edge Trailer
Massachusetts moves to protect horseshoe crabs during spawning
Bodycam footage shows high
'Who Would Win?': March Mammal Madness is underway. Here's everything players need to know
Prepare for the Spring Equinox with These Crystals for Optimism, Abundance & New Beginnings
BP oil refinery in Indiana resumes normal operations weeks after power outage, temporary shutdown