Graffiti suspect charged; 2nd sought

A 19-year-old man has surrendered to San Antonio police in connection with vandalism at two historic missions.

Andres Castañeda, 19, turned himself in at 9:25 p.m. Friday, according to an affidavit for a warrant for his arrest. He told police he and a 20-yearold female friend participated in the vandalism, the affidavit states.

A warrant has been issued for Gabriella Fritz, 20, according to the Bexar County Sheriff ’s Office. She was not in custody as of Saturday night.

Both face a charge of graffiti, which qualifies as a state felony because of the missions’ status as places of worship and public monuments.

Castañeda was expected to be released on $15,000 bail Saturday.

Words and symbols were spray-painted in pink, blue and black on the walls of Mission San Juan and Mission San José around 1 a.m. Friday, police said. One spray-painted phrase was an obscenity directed at Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Another phrase, “I don’t care. Do you” appears to be a reference to a jacket worn by first lady Melania Trump on Thursday, the day she visited an immigrant children’s shelter in the Rio Grande Valley. On the back of her jacket was a similar phrase.

Surveillance video taken at Mission San Juan, released by police on Friday, shows three people spray-painting words and symbols on the wall. A vehicle is seen in the background.

Castañeda called police to turn himself in after the video was posted by the media, police said. He said the vehicle belonged to his female friend, the affidavit states. It was unclear whether Castañeda identified the third person involved in the vandalism.