Huntsville NAACP leader calls for in-depth investigation of vandalized home

LIMESTONE COUNTY, AL (WAFF) - Friday night, a local NAACP leader is calling for a thorough investigation after authorities said vandals spray painted a racial slur on Limestone County house and smashed several windows.

Sheriff Mike Blakely said they're interviewing people that live in the area and talking to nearby businesses but they don't know who vandalized the house on New Year's Eve.

The owner of the Bethel Road home is African American.

However, Blakely said because they haven't determined what motivated the vandals to target the home so they're classifying it as a criminal mischief investigation and not a hate crime.

He said that could change and if it does then the FBI could get involved.

Huntsville NAACP leader Alice Sams said she believes this is a hate crime.

Sams said she is in the process of getting in touch with other NAACP leaders on how the organization will move forward as the investigation continues.

"It is really frightening to think that someone would come onto your property and write hate words. This is 2015." said Sams.

Sheriff Blakely said the community is already reaching out to the homeowner to help. He said one of her neighbors helped remove part of the graffiti.

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