Vandal carves name into Alamo with car key
SAN ANTONIO — The shrine of Texas liberty has become the target of a vandal.
A man is accused of using a car key to carve his name inside the Alamo.
On Thursday, San Antonio police said Julio Perez, 22, scratched his name inside the Monks' Burial Room, damaging the newly designated World Heritage Site.
"Many Texans died here fighting for the independence of Texas. We don't take it lightly when someone comes and desecrates this area," Chief Mark Adkins with the Alamo Rangers said.
The Alamo, originally known as the Mission San Antonio de Valero, is more than 250 years old.
The Monks' Burial Ground, a side room off the sanctuary, is cordoned off for the investigation. The 3-inch by 1-inch carving left about $250,000 worth of damage, according to the police report.
The Alamo was open to visitors when the wall was damaged. According to the police report, a tour guide spotted Perez and alerted the Alamo Rangers, who are in charge of security. They held Perez until San Antonio Police arrested him.
Perez faces charges of second degree felony criminal mischief.
Preservation experts are working on a plan to fix the damage.