University police search for Brigham Young statue vandals

PROVO, Utah (AP) - Brigham Young University police were searching for the people who vandalized an on-campus statue of Brigham Young.

Campus Police Lt. Rich Christianson said surveillance video indicated there were two suspects involved but police are still investigating, The Daily Herald reported.

The vandals poured red, latex paint over the front of the statue in Provo between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. June 15, police said.

The word "racist" was written in spray paint across the pedestal beneath the statue of the university's namesake.

The sign outside of the Abraham O. Smoot Adm! inistration Building was also vandalized with a red "X" in spray paint.

The paint was cleaned off later that day.

The suspects face potential criminal mischief charges for the estimated $1,000 in damages, Christianson said.

The university is owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, widely known as the Mormon church. Young became the second president of the church in 1847 and served until his death in 1877.