A statue of a living Tuskegee Airman, Richard Hall, Jr., was reportedly intentionally damaged over the weekend at the Hannibal Square Heritage Center in Winter Park.
The Winter Park Police Department were notified of the vandalism in the early hours of Monday, May 7, when the Heritage Center staff saw the damage.
The statue, created by Florida artist Rigoberto Torres, depicts the visage of longtime Hannibal Square resident and WWII hero, Tuskegee Airman Chief Master Sgt. Richard Hall Jr., who is now 95 years old.
According to a statement issued by Hannibal Square staffers, the damage to the statue includes an eight-inch hole located in the gut of the figure. Plans are already being put into motion with Torres to repair the sculpture.
The Winter Park Police Department is reluctant to label the vandalism as a hate crime at this time. Anyone with information that could help identify the vandals are encouraged to call 407-644-1313.
