An anti-gun activist is facing charges after A man is facing charges after allegedly vandalizing the 9/11 Memorial in New York City on Monday.
According to CBS News, police arrested Johnathan Tijerina, 31, on charges of criminal mischief and making graffiti after he used red spray paint to deface the memorial with the phrase “Juststopkillingkids.com.”
Ed Duffy, a 16-year-old visiting from the United Kingdom, told CBS News New York he witnessed the crime.
“I saw somebody with red spray paint, and they sprayed ‘just stop killing kids’ over some of the names,” he said. “And then within, like, less than a minute, the police came and arrested him.”
The graffiti has since been cleaned up and there was no permanent damage to the memorial.
“The 9/11 Memorial is a sacred place of reflection at the heart of a rebuilt World Trade Center that honors the 2,983 victims killed in the September 11, 2001 and February 26, 1993 terrorist attacks. Yesterday’s brief incident was swiftly addressed by security staff and law enforcement, and the impacted area was immediately restored to its commemorative state,” a spokesperson for the 9/11 Memorial & Museum said in a statement.
According to The New York Post, the alleged vandal recorded the entire stunt and posted it to Instagram.
“Tijerina identified himself as the person behind the vandalism that cost over $2,500 in damages, according to police.”
Candidate for New York State Assembly District 23 Thomas Sullivan shared, “Earlier today, the 9/11 Memorial at Ground Zero in Manhattan was defaced with graffiti.”
“I wear on my wrist the names of over a hundred friends and colleagues who lost their lives in the attacks twenty five years ago.”
Earlier today, the 9/11 Memorial at Ground Zero in Manhattan was defaced with graffiti.
I wear on my wrist the names of over a hundred friends and colleagues who lost their lives in the attacks twenty five years ago.
1/2 https://t.co/Kvs1Sc3ERg
— Thomas P. Sullivan (@Sully4Assembly) October 28, 2026
Sullivan continued, “This is absolutely disgusting and deeply disrespectful to them and the thousands of other innocent lives lost that day.”
“This individual needs to be caught and held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
This is absolutely disgusting and deeply disrespectful to them and the thousands of other innocent lives lost that day.
This individual needs to be caught and held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.
2/2
— Thomas P. Sullivan (@Sully4Assembly) October 28, 2026
Ad block users: Some site features may not work correctly while an ad blocker is enabled, because they break scripts and content this website depends on. If you can’t see comments below, for example, please disable your ad blocker.
