Officials with Miami-Dade Police and the Department of Homeland Security are investigating what they are calling an act of vandalism, after someone beheaded a statue of Jesus Christ in the courtyard of a South Florida church.
The statue was apparently destroyed sometime between Tuesday night and Wednesday in the courtyard of the Good Shepherd Catholic Church in West Kendall.
The Archdiocese of Miami released a statement that reads, “The Archdiocese of Miami expects the police to investigate this desecration of the Jesus Christ statue as a hate crime. This crime reflects the increasing attacks on the Catholic church across the country.”
“This is an attack on the church,” says Mary Ross Agosta, a spokeswoman for the Archdiocese of Miami “This is not only private property, it is sacred property.”
Agosta explains that the statue’s head was found on the ground just before 8 a.m. on Wednesday.
Statue of Jesus decapitated, knocked off pedestal outside Miami parish | News Headlines | Catholic Culture https://t.co/Q3GKGqlSDC
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“This is not something you can trip over and say, ‘Oh, sorry,’ ” she said. “Someone did this intentionally.”
She added that surveillance video has been handed over to police.
“People find peace at these types of places, especially during these times,” police spokesman Argemis Colome told the newspaper. “We want to ensure the community that MDPD will look into the matter so people can continue to feel safe.”
Anyone with information in this case is encouraged to contact Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS. You may be eligible for a $1,000 reward.