MEAWW.COM / NEWS / HUMAN INTEREST

Did vandals destroy George Floyd mural? Toledo officials blame natural causes

Artist David Ross painted the mural, titled 'Take a Breath', in the summer of 2020 amid Black Lives Matter protests after Floyd's murder

A mural in Toledo which was made to honor George Floyd collapsed on Tuesday, July 12. Even though some people are saying that the mural collapsed after getting struck by lightning, some are still stating that the cause of damage is "unknown."

Hugh Koogan, city building inspector, said it appeared to be a result of natural deterioration. The city had noticed the middle of the wall, where most of the damage occurred, bowing recently, he said. Another outlet reported that allegedly a lightning strike hit the area block at around 4.30 pm on Tuesday, July 12. The mural was on a building where the Mugshots Bar was previously situated. The lightning strike, which hit directly on George Floyd’s face, reduced the mural to a pile of bricks. “It was just age. It just came away," Koogan said. “It happens to the older buildings.”

RELATED ARTICLES

George Floyd protests: From flightpaths to Bansky, here are some grand gestures for Black Lives Matter

Who fired shots at George Floyd Square? One injured at Minneapolis memorial site on Floyd death anniversary

One Witness has said that they saw lightning strike the building at the site of the collapse, but Koogan, who talked to the person, said he found no signs to support that theory. He also dismissed claims that the rainy weather was to blame. The artist, David Ross, said he is skeptical of the cause. He painted the mural, titled 'Take a Breath' in the summer of 2020 amid Black Lives Matter protests after Floyd's murder, who was killed under the knee of former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin. Chauvin was later convicted of murder and sentenced to 22.5 years in prison. Ross has said that he remembers receiving threats and criticism at the time. It makes him wonder now if someone vandalized the mural. “When I did the mural, there was stuff on the wall that I couldn’t remove and that let me know how strong that structure was. The lightning thing, that’s possible, but I know it didn’t just fall.” He added, “I’m not upset because I know I’m going to do it again, whether it was natural or vandalism." 

Some Internet users weaved their own wild theory behind the destruction. One Internet user said, "White supremacy has gone too far." While another one said, "I'm not a religious man, but this is definitely a sign." Another one questioned, "Was there a strange norse looking, blonde hair, blue eyed man with a hammer standing nearby?" While another one attacked, saying, "God says not to worship criminals just because they were wrongly killed." One Twitter user said, "Sometimes, God works in mysterious ways. Other times, He leaves no room for confusion." While another one wondered, "Grounded, metal street lights right next to the structure and yet it gets hit and the mural destroyed..."