Man accused of decapitating Iwo Jima statue with sledgehammer near Quantico
A Virginia man was arrested after allegedly using a sledgehammer to knock the head off a Marine figure depicted in an Iwo Jima statue near Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia, causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage to the historic military monument, police said.Officers with the Prince William County Police Department responded at about 10:13 p.m.Wednesday, Oct.
21, to reports of vandalism at the statue near Richmond Highway and Fuller Road in Quantico, Virginia.Police identified the suspect as Miguel Alonso Maldonado Soriano, 27, of Stafford, Virginia, who was allegedly striking the monument with a sledgehammer when officers arrived.MASKED MAN CAUGHT ON CAMERA SMASHING VIRGIN MARY STATUE WITH A HAMMER OUTSIDE NYC CHURCHMiguel Alonso Maldonado Soriano was arrested after allegedly using a sledgehammer to damage the Iwo Jima statue near Marine Corps Base Quantico.(Prince William County Police)Authorities said Maldonado Soriano was detained and arrested after officers discovered extensive damage to the limestone sculpture, which commemorates one of the most recognizable moments in American military history.The damage included the complete removal of one Marine's head, along with damage to other figures depicted raising the American flag during the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II, according to authorities.Images of the damaged monument show the figure farthest to the right missing its head, while another Marine has visible gouges across his helmet and face, police told Fox News Digital.A third figure sustained damage to a bayonet attached to a firearm slung over his back.
Police estimated the damage would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to repair.WOMAN ACCUSED OF DEFACING WWII MEMORIAL WITH SPRAY PAINT INDICTED BY FEDERAL GRAND JURYThe limestone statue near Marine Corps Base Quantico depicts the famous flag-raising on Iwo Jima during World War II.(Prince William County Police)Maldonado Soriano faces three charges: felony destruction of propert...