Queens statue vandalized in anti-religious hate crime

Queens statue defaced with anti-religious graffiti in early morning hate crime

Queens, NY — A statue in Astoria was vandalized with spray-painted anti-religious messages in an early morning incident now being investigated as a hate crime, police said.

The incident occurred around 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 21, in front of 36-25 11 Street within the confines of the 114th Precinct. According to NYPD Crimestoppers, an unidentified individual used spray paint to deface the statue and write anti-religious remarks at the location.

The individual fled the scene following the act and remains unidentified. No description of the suspect has been rele...