A protester who sprayed “Hamas is comin” at a pro-Gaza rally has been arrested after being identified by a gym buddy and a local police officer. Zaid Mohammad Mahdawi, 26, was taken into custody by FBI agents in Henrico, Virginia according to an arrest warrant filed in D.C. federal court. Mahdawi was allegedly seen climbing up the Christopher Columbus statue in Washington, D.C. during a rally while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was in the city in July.
The incident occurred when the Israeli leader’s visit sparked protests across the city, including a permitted rally at the Christopher Columbus Memorial Fountain. The man, dressed in black pants, a red shirt, white Nikes, a red-and-white keffiyeh, and a green fabric covering his face, sprayed his support for Hamas in tall red letters on the statue. Although the spray-painter initially got away, the National Park Service released a bulletin seeking information on the suspect.
An informant contacted Park Police with a tip that led to the identification of Mahdawi. FBI agents eventually located Mahdawi through surveillance at his gym in Richmond, Virginia based on information provided by the informant. Further investigations revealed that Mahdawi had a history of arrests at demonstrations, with photos showing him wearing the same shoes as the suspect in the bulletin.
Mahdawi is facing charges of destruction of government property under $1,000, with a potential prison sentence of up to one year. The cost to clean up and repair the damage from the incident, including the spray-painted statue and flags pulled down from flag poles, was estimated at $11,282.23. The case highlights the role of community members in assisting law enforcement in identifying individuals involved in criminal activities.