Police are hoping to identify several individuals responsible for last week’s vandalism at Las Cruces High School.
Surveillance videos show several people – believed to be teenagers or young adults – jumping a wrought iron fence and entering the mall at Las Cruces High School. The suspects entered school grounds in two waves, the first beginning about 1:30 a.m. and the second at about 2:30 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 16.
The vandalism consisted of paint graffiti in the vocational wing, cafeteria and mall areas of Las Cruces High School. Some of the graffiti included what was described as racially motivated lettering.
Eggs and mustard were also used to vandalize the school grounds.
School officials discovered the vandalism before classes began on Thursday morning. Damage to the school was initially estimated at between $2,000 and $4,000.
Las Cruces police have released a 35-second video showing some of the individuals believed to be responsible for the vandalism. The video can be seen on the Las Cruces Police Department’s Facebook page.
Las Cruces/Dona Ana County Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information that helps identify the suspects.
Anyone with information is asked to call Las Cruces Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477. Tips can also be provided through the Las Cruces Crime Stoppers app, “P3 TIPS.” The app is available through the App Store on most devices. Those who provide tips through Crime Stoppers do not have to leave their own name and will remain completely anonymous.