Man arrested for beheading Iwo Jima statue at Virginia marine base

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 22 Oct, 22:44 · Archive

A 27-year-old man was arrested for using a sledgehammer to damage an Iwo Jima statue at US Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia.

Miguel Alonso Maldonado Soriano, 27, was arrested by Prince William County police after being found actively damaging the Iwo Jima statue at US Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. Officers responded to a report of property destruction near Richmond Highway around 10pm on Wednesday and detained Soriano without incident as he was using a sledgehammer to damage the monument.

One of the six servicemen depicted in the statue had its head completely removed by the sledgehammer. A second figure sustained gouge marks on the helmet and face, and a third had its bayonet knocked off from the firearm slung over its back. Police said the damage is estimated to cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to repair.

Soriano has been charged with felony destruction of property, trespass with intent to damage property and felony injury to a monument. He is being held without bond. The statue, sculpted from limestone by Felix de Weldon in 1954, honours all Marines who have died in defence of the United States since 1775.

How it is being reported

• Vandal beheads Quantico Iwo Jima statue soldier with sledgehammer, causing over $100K in damageThe vandal decapitated one of the six servicemen depicted in the monument sculpted in 1954 that honors all Marines who have died defending American since 1775.New York Post · 22 Oct, 22:32
• Virginia man, 27, uses sledgehammer to behead Iwo Jima statue that will cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to repairMiguel Alonso Maldonado Soriano, 27, was found by Prince William County police 'actively damaging' the Iwo Jima statue in Quantico, Virginia.Daily Mail · 22 Oct, 21:37

In this story: Miguel Alonso Maldonado Soriano · US Marine Corps Base Quantico · Prince William County police · Virginia

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