A historic Ocala church already knocked offline by a weekend electrical fire is now facing a second gut punch. Leaders at St. Paul A.M.E. say someone slipped into the shuttered sanctuary overnight and covered it with racist slurs, threatening messages, and eerie drawings, rattling the tight-knit Tucker Hill neighborhood.
Vandals Scrawled Racial Slurs And Threats
Church officials say unknown trespassers got into the condemned building and tagged both the inside and outside with racial slurs, phrases including "Peckerwood Will Lick" and crude drawings of death faces, according to Ocala-News. Officers responded Tuesday night after leaders spotted the damage, documented the graffiti, and secured the property.
Fire Severely Damaged Sanctuary Days Earlier
The vandalism piled onto an electrical blaze that tore through the two-story sanctuary late Saturday, leaving the 134-year-old church blackened and structurally unsafe. Fire crews fought heavy smoke and punishing heat, and city inspectors later condemned the building, according to WCJB.
Police And Federal Agents Investigate
Ocala Police have opened a criminal case and are processing the scene, and church leaders say federal authorities, including the FBI, have been alerted, according to WKMG/ClickOrlando. Investigators have not announced any suspects or arrests and are asking anyone with video, photos, or tips from the area to contact detectives.
Church Leaders Call For Unity
Pastor Rev. Dr. Sha’Leda Mirra responded with a statement saying the congregation "remains steadfast" and that St. Paul A.M.E. unequivocally condemns all acts of hate, racism, and violence. The church has released a press statement and plans a news conference on Wednesday at 3 p.m. on the sanctuary steps. Details and donation information are posted on the church website, according to St. Paul A.M.E. Church.
Why This May Trigger A Hate-Crime Probe
If investigators conclude the break-in and graffiti were driven by racial bias, the vandalism could be treated as a hate crime and draw federal civil rights scrutiny. The FBI says it investigates offenses in which perpetrators act because of bias and can bring forensic and civil rights expertise to help local agencies, according to the FBI.
How To Help
St. Paul A.M.E. is accepting donations for its recovery through its Givelify page and by mail at the church’s listed P.O. Box. Leaders are asking for prayers, patience, and any information that might help solve the case. Anyone who knows anything about the vandalism is urged to contact Ocala Police, and the church says it will share more after Wednesday’s news conference. Donation and contact details are available on the church website, according to St. Paul A.M.E. Church.
