Mural of former Mayor Rizzo vandalized, 1 person in custody

SOUTH PHILADELPHIA (WTXF) - A mural of former Mayor Frank Rizzo was vandalized overnight in South Philadelphia's Italian market. Police say one person is in custody.

The incident, which took place at the corner of South 9 th Street and Montrose, comes after a Rizzo statue in City Hall was vandalized twice this week. Once, the statue was pelted with eggs. Then someone spray-painted the words "Black Power" on the statue.

Cleaning crews scoped out the scene this morning to see what they could do to salvage the mural. It is likely that the mural will have to be repainted.

In the mural's center, white paint can be seen splattered on the face of Rizzo. The words "Kill Killer Cops" are spray-painted on the mural, along with "RIP David," the latter a possible reference to the death of David Jones. Jones was shot in the back by a Philadelphia Police officer in June during an altercation that is still under investigation.

Police have been stationed at the mural, but were not present overnight when the incident took place around 2:30 a.m.

Twenty-five years after his death, the former mayor has deep-seeded support in the community. A petition going around already has tens of thousands of signatures to keep the Rizzo statue in Thomas Paine Plaza, in addition to a petition to keep the Rizzo mural on South 9 th Street.