Statue of Christopher Columbus vandalized in Hamilton

HAMILTON, N.J. (WPVI) -- Police are looking for the vandal who defaced a statue of Christopher Columbus in Mercer County.

It happened outside the Italian American Heritage Center in Hamilton.

The organization spent two years raising $18,000 to buy the statue.

Its face is now covered in black graffiti with the number 13 written on its chest.

On Wednesday, the Italian American Festival President called whoever did this a "coward."

He urged the suspect to come forward.