Federal investigation into vandalism at California Catholic school

Investigation Launched into Vandalism at Long Beach Catholic School

The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division announced on Monday that it’s starting an investigation into the break-in and vandalism that occurred at Holy Innocents Catholic School in Long Beach, California. This comes after reports of significant damage and desecration at the school.

Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, Harmeet Dhillon, stated, “Civil Rights will launch an investigation into this horrific crime.” School officials reported that various areas including the assembly hall, chapel, and classrooms were broken into.

The vandalism involved the destruction of religious statues—as well as images of the Pope being thrown onto the floor. There are videos that depict the extent of the damage.

Additional reports indicate acts of public defecation on school property and remnants of food and drink left behind. Authorities are even considering DNA testing as part of their efforts to find those responsible.

The local police force and the FBI have been informed about the incident. Preliminary estimates put the damage at around $100,000, according to reports.

A member of the pro-life group Live Action, Lila Rose, expressed her sorrow about the situation by stating, “Statues were smashed. Images of Our Lady were vandalized. Tabernacles were thrown to the floor. This is one of the worst acts of vandalism a local bishop has ever witnessed.” She encouraged prayers for the school community.

Principal Cyril Crews shared his heartbreak, noting, “It’s not just the physical things. It’s the heart behind things,” reflecting on the emotional impact of the event. He added a call for prayer, acknowledging the presence of evil in the world.

A GoFundMe campaign has been established to support the school and had raised nearly $60,000 by Tuesday morning. The campaign highlighted that several individuals allegedly destroyed religious artifacts and caused extensive damage, with Bishop Mark Trudeau describing it as the worst act of vandalism he’s seen in the community.