The 9/11 Memorial at Ground Zero has been sprayed with graffiti, and now a man is facing charges.
Johnathan Tijerina, 31, was arrested on criminal mischief and graffiti charges in connection with the words spray-painted on the memorial Monday evening.
Look:
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
A teen from the UK who saw the whole thing told CBS News New York what he had witnessed.
“I saw somebody with red spray paint, and they sprayed ‘just stop killing kids’ over some of the names. And then within, like, less than a minute, the police came and arrested him,” said 16-year-old Ed Duffy.
“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,” said a 9/11 Memorial & Museum spokesperson
Thankfully, the site was able to be cleaned and has not sustained any permanent damage from the vandalism.
X users were disgusted:
This is what happens when you let them have power pic.twitter.com/alPG4fx1sQ
— Buckley’s Chance (@PragmaticOzzy) October 28, 2026
If you think modern Democrats in New York still care about 9/11 you’re sadly mistaken. They elected a terrorist sympathizer as their mayor. Expect more of this in the future.
— The Atheist Conservative boop/bop/beep (@oneconservativ3) October 28, 2026
Defacing the 9/11 Memorial is about as low as it gets. Nearly 3,000 people were murdered that day, and some coward with a spray can couldn’t show them basic respect. Find them, charge them, and hand them the scrub brush. Never forget means never.
— Fugedaboutit (@StrtKing) October 28, 2026
I dont care what someone’s politics are leave memorials alone you are not special by defacing them.
— Philip jackway (@Daemonised) October 28, 2026
Well, New York put an ‘America deserved 9/11’-mentality’ in office so what did they expect?
— Maria Benaim.
(@mcbenaim) October 28, 2026
They should be hung. No exceptions, no excuses. No public service, no probation, or apologizing to the families.
This is unacceptable and unrehabable
— Dylan Sandas (@Dylan_Sandas) October 28, 2026
A gun control group vandalized the 911 Memorial? Truly sick.
— Gordy (@kotletparty) October 28, 2026
No words.
Ok, maybe a string of curse words and suggestions of punishment.
These people have no bottom.— Bucking Fitches (@buckingfitch50) October 28, 2026
