Four airmen from Shaw Air Force Base have been charged after allegedly spray-painting a church in South Carolina with satanic graffiti.
After being arrested Thursday in connection with the spray-painting incident, Kayla Eilerman, Clayre Savage, Daveion Green and Brandon Munoz have been charged with trespassing, malicious injury to a house of worship and criminal conspiracy, The State reports.
All four airmen were arrested a day after local authorities posted surveillance footage of the vandalism.
“Several tips came in from the community, including from Shaw AFB personnel who gave us the names of possible suspects,” said Ken Bell, spokesman for the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. “We began researching the names through various databases and social media.”
The four allegedly targeted the Salem Black River Presbyterian Church, a historic building that’s existed for 250 years, with symbols painted on the building’s white columns, doors and sidewalks. Notably, the building had previously been a target of satanic attacks, but not for some years.
All four accused are active-duty airmen, Shaw Air Force Base stated Friday.
“The United States Air Force does not condone acts of vandalism,” 20th Fighter Wing spokesman 1st Lt. Alannah Staver said. “Such behavior is not representative of the Airmen of Shaw AFB as a whole. We feel we are a part of this community, are proud to serve here, and we are disappointed to hear of this incident.”
A church member discovered the satanic graffiti on Sept. 29 in the afternoon and reported it to authorities. Nearby buildings were also hit with the same graffiti. Total damage to the church, including a door that was kicked down, amounts to approximately $3,000.
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