Columbus Police are looking for suspects in the overnight vandalism of a South Side church. According to reports, gun shots damaged church doors and a community basketball court.
When Pastor Frederick LaMarr of the Family Missionary Baptist Church arrived at work Monday morning, he noticed the glass backboards of two basketball hoops had been shattered with what appeared to be pellets from a BB gun.
"I was frustrated considering all of the outreach efforts and things that we do in the community," said Pastor LaMarr. "My frustration was really about...who would do something like this?"
Pastor Lamar leads Ministries for Movement, an organization that works to prevent violence in the neighborhood. He says his church has been the target of serious vandalism in the past, but he believes this instance was a result of kids playing with a BB gun.
Pastor LaMarr estimates that it will cost about $4,000 to fix the damage. He plans to start repairs soon--the basketball court is one of few places where neighborhood kids can play. But first, he says he'll use the opportunity as a lesson.
"I want the children to see that this is what happens when you allow somebody to vandalize what's yours," said LaMarr. "It sends a message so that they won't vandalize things."