Vandals cause $100K damage to library, reward offered for arrest
RENTON, Wash. -- It’s a heartless crime that left an entire neighborhood outraged.
Investigators believe vandals are responsible for nearly $100,000 in damage at a library that’s still under construction. Someone shot out several large glass windows at the Renton Highlands Library construction project. Detectives think the shooter used a high-powered BB or pellet gun.
“This is public property so all these dollars that are being poured into repairs are tax dollars that we’re all having to pay,” said Dave Leibman with the Renton Police Department.
Police beefed up their patrols around the area but so far haven’t caught the suspects in the act. Cops think the target practice is happening in the evening or overnight hours – detectives are scouring security footage.
“We do have some surveillance footage but we have dozens of hours over it,” said Leibman. “We’re going through it now.”
The senseless vandalism infuriated neighbors who want to see the neighborhood take a turn for the better.
“They’ve been waiting for a library like this to come along and to have some moron come around here and blow it up like this is ridiculous,” said Mike Shane.
“Who ever did it was really stupid and whoever is really stupid is talking to other people how funny they think it is,” said Gale Wright. “Someone’s going to spill the beans.”
Renton Police and King County Libraries are offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest. Neighbors just want the vandalism to stop and for the shooter to face justice.
“It’s going to come down hard. Cause you have the face the rest of the people around you,” said Wright. “This is a community thing that’s going to be used daily.”
Anyone with information in this case is asked to call detectives at 425-430-7500.