Apex Mayor Jacques Gilbert called for hateful graffiti at Beaver Creek Crossings to be scrubbed off immediately on Thursday, after disturbing images of the vandalism ricocheted through a local Facebook community. The spray-painted messages targeted racial, sexual and religious groups, and neighbors quickly posted photos that drew widespread attention. Gilbert said he would head to the plaza himself to meet with property managers and stay on site while crews worked to remove the words as soon as possible.
How the vandalism came to light
The graffiti, which included racist, homophobic and antisemitic language, was first shared by members of a local Apex community Facebook group, according to WRAL. The outlet reported that photos of the wall were circulating online before town leaders were officially alerted.
Mayor, police and cleanup plans
In a statement to WRAL, Gilbert condemned the slurs, said he had contacted shopping-center management and noted that a building engineer was already on the way to remove the graffiti. He added, “I will personally wait at the plaza to meet with building managers to work on getting the graffiti washed off as soon as possible.”
According to the same report, Apex police said a criminal investigation would be opened only if the building owner files an official report, putting the next move in the hands of the property owner.
Where it happened
The vandalism appeared on a building at Beaver Creek Crossings, a large retail complex in Apex. The plaza’s official site lists its directory and contact information for tenants and visitors, offering a sense of the busy shopping area where the incident unfolded.
How to report graffiti
The Town of Apex maintains an online “Report a Concern” page that includes a graffiti-removal option and guidance for reporting property damage. Residents can also contact local police to share tips or evidence. Town resources note that the municipal reporting form is one way to get graffiti on public property or in the right-of-way removed quickly.
Mayor Jacques K. Gilbert, a former Apex police captain who now serves as mayor, moved quickly to make cleanup a priority, signaling the town’s stance against hate speech. This story will be updated if property managers or police release additional information.
