Moreno Valley Veterans Memorial catches fire, arson suspected

An arson investigation is underway after a memorial to navy veterans was set on fireplace in Moreno Valley early Saturday morning.

Firefighters and legislation enforcement arrived on the Veterans Memorial on the Moreno Valley Civic Focus on 5 a.m. to find the landscaping surrounding the granite memorial ablaze.

Moreno Valley firefighters have been capable of rapidly put out the flames, however footage shared by town confirmed the landscaping was fully torched.

The Veterans Memorial was devoted in June 2007 and is supposed to honor the veteran group and people in Moreno Valley who misplaced their lives in service of the nation. The star-shaped memorial options giant granite panels with the names of Moreno Valley troopers killed in motion, steel sculptures of navy tools, and a bronze statue depicting a fallen soldier, created by Maryland artist Richard Rist.

The realm surrounding the memorial is landscaped with olive bushes and a rose backyard, town stated. It’s unclear how a lot of the landscaping was destroyed within the fireplace.

“The individuals chargeable for this horrible and cowardly act will probably be delivered to justice,” stated Moreno Valley Mayor Yxstian Gutierrez in a information launch. “This isn’t solely destruction of presidency property, however it’s also an assault on our veteran group in Moreno Valley.”

The investigation is ongoing and knowledge is proscribed presently. Anybody with info is urged to contact the Riverside County Sheriff’s Division at 951-486-6700 or the Riverside County Fireplace Division at 951-940-6900.