After a Catholic school in Southeast Wrigley was ransacked in February, thousands of community members helped raise more than $300,000 to defray costs for extensive repairs. Nearly three months later, they’re still mending damage, but an outpouring of support has eased their task.
When the staff of Holy Innocents School first walked onto the campus after the break-in, they were met with horrifying scene: holy statues smashed, bibles strewn on the floor and covered in urine, tabernacle defaced, cabinets and curtains ripped down, audiovisual equipment torn from closets — vandals had left a trail of destruction in the school’s assembly hall, chapel and classrooms that surprised even police detectives, school staff recalled. Restoring and securing the campus has already cost nearly half a million dollars, according to Tony Tripp, director of advancement.
Immediately after the incident, staff members said they were in a state of shock, yet they swiftly undertook basic repairs to begin using the space and holding Mass. Within two weeks, intruders broke in again — entering through a window and stealing instruments, microphones and small items. A spokesperson for the Long Beach Police Department said they are still investigating and have no suspects…