'Manhunt' underway for driver who left tire marks on LGBTQIA+ Pride Street mural [VIDEOS]

St. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The vibrant Rainbow Street mural in the Grand Central District of St. Pete, a symbol of inclusion and support for the LGBTQIA+ community, has become a target for vandals just days before the start of Pride Month. This act of defacement has left some residents disheartened and concerned for the safety of the community.

The St. Petersburg Police Department received a report of tire marks on the mural, located at Central Avenue and 25th Street, last Friday. An officer has been dispatched to investigate the incident, which is now an open investigation. Unfortunately, just a few days later, another incident occurred when someone made donuts on the mural, causing more damage. Surveillance footage from a nearby bar captured the incident early Wednesday morning, around 2:45 a.m.

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Lee Manuel, owner of Cocktail St. Pete's, a bar located near the mural, expressed his disappointment at the repeated acts of vandalism. He revealed that the mural had recently been restored in anticipation of Pride Month, as is done every year. The defacement was particularly disheartening given the importance of the mural to the local community.

“The first instance was really disheartening, knowing that it was recently painted over and the symbol it is for the community here,” Manuel said. “It was amazing to hear it happen again…”

In light of these incidents, Manuel plans to implement increased security measures at his bar during Pride Month. The acts of vandalism coincide with a warning issued by the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security about the possible targeting of LGBTQIA+-related events and venues by foreign terrorist organizations or their supporters during the upcoming Pride month.

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“This raises the awareness of everyone in the community that we have to be diligent,” Manuel stressed. We have to be focused and pay attention to what is happening outside and who is doing it. If you see something that looks wrong, say something. To arrive. Call the police. Let them know. It's better to be safe than sorry.”

Although saddened by the incidents, Manuel remains optimistic about the inclusive and accepting nature of St. Pete. As a lifelong resident with deep roots in the community, he believes these acts of vandalism are the actions of a few individuals and not representative of the city as a whole.

“It's a shame, and having been a lifelong resident born and raised here, my family has been in St. Pete for 110 years, it's not the St. Pete I knew growing up here,” lamented Manuel . “Again, a lot has changed, but it's still a great community to live in. It is a very accepting and inclusive community. I just think there are a few bad actors.”

As a precautionary measure, several businesses in the vicinity of the mural have redirected their security cameras to monitor the street and the mural, ensuring that any further incidents are caught and reported. The community remains vigilant in its efforts to protect both the mural and the values ​​it represents.

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