Arrest Made In BLM Mural Vandalism In Mamaroneck

MAMARONECK, NY - An arrest has been made in connection with an apparent incident of broad daylight vandalism of the Black Lives Matter mural in Mamaroneck.

Police have not released the identity of the person arrested on Monday.

Mamaroneck police say an investigation has led to the arrest of a suspect in the Monday afternoon defacing of the BLM tribute on Van Ranst Place. Eyewitnesses say a man threw a can of paint over the letter "B" of the mural painted across the length of the roadway. The paint was then spread across the rest of the mural in tire tracks.

The incident occurred shortly after 2 p.m. Monday.

The lid from a can of paint neighbors say was used to deface the Black Lives Matter mural in Mamaroneck. (Jeff Edwards/Patch)

Authorities say it is not clear if the person who originally tossed the can of paint also spread the paint in a car or if other traffic on the street near the train station contributed to the damage. Police said the investigation is ongoing and no other information is being released.

"The police are investigating if they find conclusively that this was purposefully vandalized (as it would appear but we should let the investigation play out) I would hope this is classified as a hate crime and the full weight of the law is exercised against the culprits," Mayor Tom Murphy wrote in a social media post to constituents. "This ignorant and unkind act will definitely not be what defines us as a community."

Neighbor Burt Billinger, who volunteered to help paint the mural in October of 2020, agreed with Murphy's sentiments.

"To me this is a hate crime," Billinger told Patch. "It's heartbreaking. Yes, all lives matter, but the Black community was in real pain when this was painted. This [mural] is supposed to be about change."

Officials installed security cameras at both ends of the city-block-long mural after the street art tribute was defaced in October. In the earlier act of vandalism, a sports car is believed to have intentionally left tread marks across the length of the Black Lives Matter painting.

Security cameras were installed after vandalism to the mural shortly after it was unveiled in October. (Jeff Edwards/Patch)

The mural was repainted after the vandalism last fall and Murphy has vowed that it will again be repainted following this most recent incident. For now, the paint splatter and tire tread marks, along with a still wet paint can lid neighbors say the culprit left behind on a nearby sidewalk, are visible reminders of a community in pain.

Police say it is not clear if the person suspected of emptying a can of paint on the Black Lives Matter mural also spread the paint with a vehicle. (Jeff Edwards/Patch)