{"id":162583,"date":"2026-02-03T22:33:13","date_gmt":"2026-02-03T22:33:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/162583\/"},"modified":"2026-02-03T22:33:13","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T22:33:13","slug":"doj-investigating-vandalism-of-catholic-school-in-long-beach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/162583\/","title":{"rendered":"DOJ investigating vandalism of Catholic school in Long Beach"},"content":{"rendered":"

The\u00a0Justice Department<\/a> opened a civil rights investigation after vandals broke into and desecrated a Catholic<\/a> school campus in Long Beach, California<\/a>, destroying religious statues and causing extensive damage, federal and local officials said.<\/p>\n

Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights\u00a0Harmeet Dhillon<\/a>\u00a0announced in a Monday X post that the department\u2019s\u00a0Civil Rights Division<\/a>\u00a0would investigate what she described as an \u201cawful crime,\u201d tagging Attorney General Pam Bondi<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The @CivilRights<\/a> will open an investigation into this awful crime. @AGPamBondi<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/MEo6DbUTM5<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 AAGHarmeetDhillon (@AAGDhillon) February 3, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n

\u201cThe Civil Rights Division does not tolerate violence or destruction of property motivated by religious animus,\u201d Dhillon told The Washington Examiner on Tuesday, saying the \u201crise in anti-Christian bias across the country in recent years demonstrates the importance of robust enforcement of our civil rights laws.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will investigate this incident and prosecute any individuals we determine committed a federal crime,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

The vandalism occurred at Holy Innocents Catholic School in\u00a0Long Beach<\/a>, where school officials said intruders ransacked the campus overnight on Sunday. The school\u2019s assembly hall, chapel, and classrooms were broken into, with statues smashed, images of the Virgin Mary and other religious figures destroyed, and a photograph of the pope knocked to the floor.<\/p>\n

Local authorities said the case is being treated as a burglary while investigators work to identify suspects.<\/p>\n

\u201cOn Feb. 2, 2026, officers responded to a reported burglary that occurred in the 2500 block of Pacific Avenue,\u201d the Long Beach Police Department said in a statement sent to the\u00a0Washington Examiner. \u201cThe preliminary investigation indicates that unknown suspect(s) broke into a school and stole multiple items. The investigation is ongoing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Local police have contacted federal law enforcement, including the FBI, about the incident. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Jesus Osete said he is seeking to connect the local bishop with Dhillon.<\/p>\n

Investigators estimated the damage at roughly $100,000, according to a local Fox affiliate. School officials said some of the destroyed items were valued in the tens of thousands of dollars, while others were irreplaceable because of their religious significance and history.<\/p>\n

Beyond the destruction of statues and sacred objects, authorities reported defecation on school grounds and partially consumed food and drinks left behind. Those items could allow investigators to conduct DNA testing as the search for suspects continues.<\/p>\n

Tony Tripp, the school\u2019s director of advancement, said the intruders appeared to move deliberately through the campus, forcing open closets, pulling out stored items, and tearing equipment from the walls.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe sound equipment and that sort of thing was ripped out of the wall,\u201d Tripp told <\/a>a CW affiliate. \u201cAny closet that was there, everything was pulled out.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tripp said the most severe damage was inside the chapel.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat was not to be expected is the sanctuary part,\u201d he said. \u201cWe have a large statue of Mary that was pushed down and destroyed. We had the tabernacle, the gold tabernacle where our Lord is kept here; they tried to break that open.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cyril Cruz, Holy Innocents\u2019s principal, said the desecration was deeply traumatizing for students, staff, and parishioners.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are crucifixes. There are statues of the Blessed Mother. The tabernacle itself was taken and thrown on the floor,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s not just the material things. It\u2019s the heart behind the things.\u201d<\/p>\n

BREAKING: Catholic school in Long Beach, CA was desecrated overnight.
\u2070Statues smashed. Images of Our Lady destroyed. The tabernacle thrown to the floor.<\/p>\n

This is one of the worst cases of vandalism the local bishop has ever seen.<\/p>\n

Hatred of Christ only destroys hearts.
\u2070Pray\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/AmMzBbhHVH<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Lila Rose (@LilaGraceRose) February 3, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n

The vandalism drew national attention amid heightened scrutiny of crimes targeting religious institutions. In Minnesota, the DOJ is handling a multi-defendant FACE Act indictment<\/a> surrounding the violent and threatening disruption of worship at Cities Church<\/a> in St. Paul last month.<\/p>\n

Lila Rose, president of the pro-life group Live Action, wrote on X that the destruction represented one of the worst cases of vandalism the local bishop had ever seen.<\/p>\n

DON LEMON TELLS JIMMY KIMMEL HE OFFERED TO TURN HIMSELF IN AHEAD OF ARREST<\/a><\/p>\n

Supporters of the school have launched a GoFundMe campaign to help pay for repairs and restoration. <\/p>\n

As of Tuesday afternoon, more than $90,000 of the $100,000 goal had been raised, according to the fundraiser, which said multiple perpetrators smashed statues, destroyed religious images, and threw the tabernacle to the floor.<\/p>\n