MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WTVF) — An investigation has gotten underway after a Confederate statue in Murfreesboro was vandalized with the words "murderer" and "coward."
The incident was reported Tuesday night at 10:23pm. The statue located on the square, next to the old courthouse, was vandalized with paint.
Murfreesboro police confirmed someone spray painted the statute and ran from the area. Police said witnesses described the suspect as a white male who was wearing a coat and scarf. According to surveillance video from the nearby courthouse, the man walked around the downtown square for about 10 minutes before approaching the statue at 10:21 p.m. One minute later, he walked away, and drove off in a dark-colored, compact to mid-sized car.
The words "coward," "murderer," and "Fort Pillow" were spray painted on each side.
The last is a reference to the Battle of Fort Pillow, also known as the Fort Pillow massacre. It was fought in Henning, Tennessee, during the American Civil War and ended with the massacre of African-American Union troops and their white officers attempting to surrender.
The Confederate commander was Major General Nathan Bedford Forrest.
Crews had to sandblast the statue to remove the paint.
If you have any information on this incident, give Rutherford County Sheriff's Office a call at 615-904-3055.
Police received a call at 10:23 Tuesday night about an individual, in a light colored trench coat, spray painting a Confederate Statue at the Historic downtown RuCo Courthouse.. The damage was documented and the case is under investigation. If you have info call (615) 893-1311. pic.twitter.com/aFMENqOQhY
— PIO (@MboroPoliceDept) March 13, 2019
