Two charged with vandalizing statue in downtown Wilmington

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Two men have been charged for allegedly vandalizing a downtown Wilmington statue.

Around 2 a.m. Sunday, the Wilmington Police Department witnessed two men near the statue at 3rd and Dock streets.

Officers say the men painted “BLM” along with a swastika on the back of the monument, as well as other random spray paint markings.

34-year-old Marion Timothy Joyner and 26-year-old James Earl Frazier were charged with with violating a city ordinance about injuries to public buildings and monuments.

Staff from the City of Wilmington were called to remove the markings.