A vandal or vandals painted swastikas throughout a downtown Chattanooga apartment building on June 28, two days after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned all bans on gay marriage in the country.
The swastikas were painted on stairwell doors on several floors of The 300 Building at 300 W. Sixth St., residents said. The swastikas - one resident estimated as many as 20 - appeared sometime overnight on June 28.
The blue swastikas were quickly covered by building maintenance workers, according to residents. One of the building's partners, John Clark, did not return multiple requests for comment, and leasing office employee Kate McKenzie declined comment.
Multiple residents confirmed the swastikas but asked to remain anonymous for their own privacy. Some said they were disappointed and saddened by the vandalism.
Chattanooga police confirmed that officers responded to a report of vandalism at the apartment building, which has 121 studio and one-bedroom units.
Management at the complex alerted residents to the vandalism in an email on June 29, and estimated that the incident happened between midnight Sunday and 6 a.m. Monday.
The email, which is signed "The 300 Management," offers a $100 reward for information on the identity of the vandal or vandals. The email suggests that the vandal is either a tenant or friend of a tenant because of the building's security.
Residents say plastic key cards are required to get into the building, but that neighbors often will hold the door for each other or let someone in who forgot their card.
It's unclear what the building's management will do in an attempt to prevent future vandalism.