PROVO — BYU police are looking for at least two people believed to have vandalized a statue of Brigham Young on campus earlier this week.
Investigators believe the statue, located in front of the Abraham Smoot Administration Building, was vandalized sometime between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. on Monday, said Brigham Young Police Lt. Rich Christianson. The word “racist” was spray-painted at the base of the statue, and about a gallon of red paint was thrown on the rest of the statue, he said.
A red “X” was also painted over the words “Abraham Smoot,” Christianson said.
Surveillance videos in the area recorded two people committing the vandalism, he said, but the video is not clear enough to determine their identities.
Christianson said the vandalism appeared to be done “in haste.” The latex paint was quickly cleaned up the next day, he said.
The statue of the namesake of the university is about 10 to 12 feet tall including its base. It is located behind the administration building and faces most of the campus.
Anyone with information on the vandalism can call police at 801-422-2222.