A window on the northeast side of The Republic building was shot out by what Columbus police believe was a pellet gun, part of a string of similar vandalism incidents that began before Halloween.
The incident was reported to Columbus police early Wednesday morning, believed to have happened at about 12:30 a.m., said Lt. Matt Harris, Columbus Police Department spokesman. No injuries were reported.
A witness who was in the vicinity when the shooting occurred gave police a description of a vehicle — a small passenger car — that could have been involved.
Initially, the glass was punctured, but later crumbled leaving a large hole in the window wall. The glass that serves as the Republic’s exterior walls is tempered glass, which crumbles when shattered.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]
Wednesday’s incident follows several days of similar damage to ColumBUS glass enclosures where customers wait for buses, ColumBUS transit coordinator Cindy Setser said.
Over the weekend, the tempered glass enclosure for a bus stop at Marr Road and Indiana Avenue was damaged by someone breaking panels with a pellet gun, and it’s believed the same bus stop was damaged again Halloween night, Setser said.
Also on Halloween night, panels were shot out of a bus stop glass enclosure at Cottage Avenue and 22nd Street, which is used by people seeking services at United Way of Bartholomew County, Setser said.
Each panel in the bus enclosures costs about $100 to replace, and it’s unknown how much in total damages the transit department has incurred, Setser said. Because it is likely under the insurance deductible, it will have to be paid out of the transit budget, she said.
All three transit incidents happened after the buses stopped running for the evening, Setser said.
Surveillance cameras near the bus depot near Mill Race Park are being checked as damage also was reported there, Setser said.
An investigation is continuing into the incidents, and police are working to determine the number of locations where vandalism occurred.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”How to help” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Columbus police are asking anyone with information about a rash of Anyone who sees suspicious activity in the city, has had pellet gun damage or has information about the series of incidents is asked to call Columbus police detective Tom Foust at 812-376-2642.
Tips and information may be left anonymously.
[sc:pullout-text-end]
