Indian Restaurant in Virginia Vandalized With Hateful Message Months After Owner’s Home was Ransacked
- The eatery, owned by Tony Sappal, was celebrating its 27th anniversary when the graffiti was discovered.
Instead of celebrating his restaurant’s 27th anniversary, Tony Sappal had to deal with the vandalization of his eatery in Virginia’s Henrico County. India K’Raja, located along the 9000 block of West Broad Street, was spray painted with hateful messages. Sappal told CBS News 6 Richmond that he showed up at the business on Oct 1 night and saw the damage.
“When I turned to the back of the parking lot, the first thing I noticed was a big graffiti sign with a hateful message: Do* He***,” he told the news outlet. “I felt really sad when I saw it and was shocked and it happened on the day we were celebrating our 27th anniversary,” he said. “We’ve been doing it for such a long time and we have been loved and respected by this community for all this time.”
Sappal has owned the India K’Raja for nearly three decades. He said he can’t imagine anyone having a reason to target him and said his long-term employees are just as shocked. “We love what we do here and it shows through our food and our service to the community. I wasn’t expecting this at all but it’s a shock. I can’t see a reason why our restaurant would be singled out.”
Police are currently investigating the incident. A Henrico Police spokesperson told local media that “the was spray painted with offensive words around their establishment, including the building, dumpster, and fencing.” In a news conference last week, Henrico Police Chief Eric English reiterated the department’s commitment “to the safety and well-being” of everyone in the community. “Acts of intimidation or hatred will not be tolerated in our community. Anyone committing criminal acts will be charged accordingly.” No suspect has been named as yet.
In a news conference last week, Henrico Police Chief Eric English provided details on the incident. “The property was spray painted with offensive words around their establishment, including the building, dumpster, and fencing,” a Henrico Police spokesperson said. “We are committed to the safety and well-being of everyone in our community,” Henrico Police Chief Eric English said. “Acts of intimidation or hatred will not be tolerated in our community. Anyone committing criminal acts will be charged accordingly.” Henrico Police haven’t named any suspect.
Meanwhile, Sappal told CBS News 6 Richmond that his home was ransacked and robbed in August, adding that he’s “unaware of any connection,” between the two incidents,” and could be “coincidental.”