Red, black and green paint was found on the front of Foellinger Auditorium on Tuesday morning, less than 12 hours before political activist Charlie Kirk’s scheduled appearance in the building.
The paint was splattered in small bursts high on the auditorium’s pillars, and more paint was found on the concrete in front of the building.
Facilities & Services workers were cleaning the paint as early as 9 a.m. Some of the blue and orange coverings — which concealed previous damage done to the auditorium — have been removed. F&S workers applied white paint to cover the word “DIVEST.”
The Daily Illini is currently awaiting a response to the situation from UIPD.
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UPDATE: April 8, 1 p.m. —
A University student has been arrested in relation to the vandalism done to the front of Foellinger Auditorium, according to a UIPD press release.
Twenty-year-old Adam Ahmed was arrested by UIPD early this morning after he was spotted wearing an outfit that matched the security footage of the vandalism. He faces charges of criminal damage to government-supported property, a felony, and resisting or obstructing a peace officer. Ahmed is currently being held at Champaign County Jail, according to the release.
UIPD officers were dispatched at 4:04 a.m. after receiving a call from a staff member who found the paint splatters. Damage was done to each column, the sidewalk surrounding the building and the auditorium’s entrance doors.
Footage reportedly showed three people in all-black clothing vandalizing the auditorium. Ahmed was identified by UIPD after running from an officer and “stopping 15 feet away,” according to the press release.
Anyone with information on the incident is encouraged to contact UIPD at 217-333-1216 or Champaign County Crime Stoppers at 217-373-8477.
**This is a developing story. Check back for updates.**
