Church vandalism said to be hate crime

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - The FBI is investigating the 2011 vandalism of a Richmond church as a possible hate crime.

The Richmond Police Department also continues to investigate last October's incident at Southampton Baptist Church, and the agencies are offering a reward of up to $2,500 for information that would help them solve the case.

According to the FBI, in the early morning hours last Oct. 9 someone spray-painted racist and anti-Semitic graffiti and disturbing images on the exterior walls of the church. The FBI says the sheer volume of profane religious and racial graffiti makes this a potential hate crime.

Anyone with information can call the FBI at 804-261-1044 or Richmond Crime Stoppers at 804-780-1000.