Red hearts adorned a bus stop for three weeks after the so-called “Valentine Vandal” defaced buildings up and down central Lubbock.
Red hearts were painted on this bus stop across from Lubbock High School after the “Valentine Vandal” swept up Ave. Q and 19th St.
Lillian O’Connor, from Virginia and a resident of Lubbock for 20 years, said she arrived at her antique store on Valentine’s Day to find white hearts painted on her windows. She said this occurred to other businesses on 19th Street and Avenue Q.
“At first it was like no big whoop,” O’Connor said, “but when I tried to clean it off there was a big whoop.”
O’Connor said the hearts did not come off easily, costing her money to clean, money she could have invested elsewhere.
“Three-six-nine,” O’Connor said, “there were about nine to 12 hearts.”
According to the City of Lubbock Police incident report, Officer Stacy Peterson was the first to arrive on the scene. Officer Peterson reported the crime as criminal mischief.
O’Connor said the crimes against persons department is still investigating. According to the department, Detective Kraig Van Hoose is the investigator assigned to the case.
“The investigation is still going,” Detective Van Hoose said, “so there is not much information we can give out.”
Detective Van Hoose said while they have a person of interest, they have not been able to speak to him yet.
O’Connor said the suspect was caught on a security camera and his picture has been shown on local news stations.
O’Connor said that while white hearts were painted on her windows, red hearts were painted on others. Evidence of the vandalism can still be seen at a bus station at the intersection of 19th Street and Avenue T.
O’Connor said she has had her shop open for 20 years and just recently has had a problem with vandalism.
About Kaitlin Thogmartin
