URBANA –A University of Illinois student was arrested Tuesday for allegedly vandalizing Foellinger Auditorium.
University police officers were dispatched to Foellinger Auditorium at 4:04 a.m. after being called by staff who discovered paint on the building’s exterior. Conservative commentator Charlie Kirk was scheduled to appear at the auditorium for an event Tuesday night.
Once on scene, an officer observed damage to all six columns, the sidewalk and the entrance doors. The damage requires extensive labor to remove, the university’s public safety department said in a news release.
Security cameras in the area showed footage of three people dressed in all-black clothing vandalizing the building.
Courtesy of University of Illinois Police Department
A second university police officer in the area observed an individual matching the clothing description. When the officer activated his emergency lights, the person started running before stopping 15 feet away, according to the university.
The individual was identified as U of I student Adam T. Ahmed, 20, of Champaign. He was arrested for criminal damage to government supported property and resisting or obstructing a police officer. Ahmed was transported to the Champaign County Jail and is set to appear in court Wednesday.
Police are continuing to investigate the incident and are still seeking evidence or more information that will lead to the identification of the other two individuals believed to be involved in the incident.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the University of Illinois Police Department at 217-333-1216.