The New York Police Department has arrested and charged a 16-year-old boy for defacing a World War 1 memorial as anti-Israel protests continue across the city.
The 16-year-old boy is accused of defacing the 107th United States Infantry monument, located along Central Park on the Upper East Side, by spray-painting “Gaza” in red across the base of the structure.
NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry, last night posted an image on X, formerly Twitter, of the young vandal in handcuffs sitting on a bench inside a police station. His face is blurred out.
The New York Post initially reported, citing sources, that the teen's father turned him in, but police denied that to Fox News. They attributed the arrest to good police work and an assist by a school safety agent.
“The despicable vandalism we saw earlier this week on the WWI Memorial will not be ignored, and will not go unpunished,” Daughtry wrote, blasting the hateful act.
“One of the culprits was placed in handcuffs today thanks to the World's Greatest Detectives. This isn't simply juvenile hijinks — it's an act of desecration that undermines the freedoms our heroes fought and died for. If you have any information regarding this incident, call 800-577-TIPS or DM @NYPDTIPS.”
The teen has been charged with two counts of criminal mischief in the third degree, which are felonies, and two counts of making graffiti, a class A misdemeanor, police say.
The suspect is a regular face at rallies organized by the anti-Israel group Within Our Lifetime and attends Tottenville High School, the New York Post reports, citing police sources. He has no prior arrests.
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