Three elementary schools in Richmond’s Iron Triangle were vandalized over the weekend — Lincoln Elementary, Richmond Charter Academy, and Nystrom Elementary, police said. This comes only one week after Greenwood Academy was significantly vandalized last week.
Bayview Elementary was also recently targeted by vandals, according to WCCUSD Superintendent Dr. Kenneth Chris Hurst.
The damage done at Lincoln Elementary School located at 29-6th St. was extensive, said Richmond Police spokesperson Lt. Matt Stonebraker.
“Almost every classroom was vandalized,” he said. “Electronics, school supplies, furniture, broken interior windows, refrigerators were thrown over as well, there was paint and glue all over the furniture.”
The vandalism of the schools last weekend may be connected to a specific group of local youth, Lt. Stonebraker said. “They were able to gain entry through broken windows or prying open doors,” he said.
He noted that alarms at the school were not triggered and RPD was not summoned when the school was being vandalized. The investigation is ongoing.
“When I arrived at the school, I was saddened by the resources that had been vandalized or destroyed,” Stonebraker said.
Dr. Hurst said the damage done at each school varies, “but all require an extensive cleanup effort.”
“It is truly heartbreaking to see the heavy damage at Lincoln, which was vandalized this weekend and hit the hardest,” Hurst said, adding, “It is unconscionable that anyone would want to intentionally do so much damage to a place that serves as a safe haven and place to learn for so many young people.”
Hurst encouraged anyone with information on these incidents to contact Richmond Police at 510-233-1214.
“Each of our schools has an alarm system and there is a security response team that follows a procedure whenever there is a break-in,” Hurst said. “We will remain proactive about keeping our campuses safe, and will continue to partner with the Richmond Police Department in their investigation and to ensure we have the best procedures in place to protect our schools.”
