A Virginia man was arrested after allegedly using a sledgehammer to damage a historic military monument near Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia. The incident occurred on October 21, at approximately 10:13 p.m., when officers from the Prince William County Police Department responded to reports of vandalism at the statue.
The suspect, identified as Miguel Alonso Maldonado Soriano, 27, of Stafford, Virginia, was allegedly striking the monument with a sledgehammer when officers arrived. According to authorities, the damage included the complete removal of one Marine's head, as well as damage to other figures depicted in the sculpture. The statue, a 9-foot limestone depiction of the iconic World War II flag-raising on Mount Suribachi during the 1945 Battle of Iwo Jima, was created by sculptor Felix de Weldon.
The damage is estimated to cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to repair. Maldonado Soriano faces charges of felony destruction of property, trespassing with intent to damage property, and felony injury to a monument. He is being held without bond, and a court date has not yet been announced.
The damaged statue is a significant landmark near the entrance to Marine Corps Base Quantico, which is a major Marine Corps installation in northern Virginia. The installation has served as a center for military training and education for generations and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Quantico Marine Corps Base Historic District.
The motive behind the alleged attack is not clear, and authorities have not indicated whether the monument can be repaired.
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