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Zaid Mohammed Mahdawi, 26, of Richmond, was the latest to be charged on Friday for allegedly spray-painting the monument in July.
According to court documents, on Wednesday, July 24, an organization was granted a permit to demonstrate in the area of Columbus Circle in Northeast DC, directly in front of Union Station.
From 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. that afternoon, demonstrators investigators say that gatherers:
- Pulled down flags affixed to the flagpoles;
- Burned flags and objects;
- Sprayed graffiti on multiple statutes and structures;
- Interfered with law enforcement’s ability to place individuals under arrest.
Between 3:30 p.m. and 3:45 p.m., a protester later identified as Mahdawi climbed the monument located in the center of Columbus Circle, which was captured on video footage filmed by US Park Police cameras.
The same event was captured in open-source video and photos later posted to various internet platforms. After climbing to a ledge, Mahdawi began to spray paint the monument.
Footage reviewed on X showed Mahdawi using red spray paint to write “HAMAS IS COMIN” on the statue. He then painted an inverted red triangle above the slogan.
That bulletin led to tips that were forwarded to the FBI, who were able to identify Mahdawi, who had previously been arrested in Richmond in December 2023 and April 2024.
Officials say that the flags that were pulled down from the flag poles, and the statues and structures in Columbus Circle, are all property of the federal government. The National Park Service estimated that the cost to clean and repair the site at about $11,282.23.
Mahdawi made his initial court appearance on Friday afternoon, where he was charged with destruction of government property.
The incident remains under investigation.
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