Paintball vandalism strikes churches, business, homes in Dixie Street area

{Contributed Photos: Files Chapel Baptist Church}

On the morning of Wednesday, March 30, a deacon of Files Chapel Baptist church discovered orange-colored paintball hits of varying sizes spraying the sides and front of the building. Located at 900 Dixie St. in Lexington, Files Chapel was one of several targets.

The vandalism included three nearby churches including: Lexington Deliverance Tabernacle at 912 Dixie St., 932 Dixie St Iglesia Pentecostal de Santidad Rios de Agua Viva., Bass Food Market on 817 Cotton Grove Rd. and homes located on 2 Linwood Rd. and 928 Dixie St.

Officer Jordan Wilson responded to a call from Files Chapel’s chairman of trustees, Raymond Young. “I’ve never really seen anything like this,” Wilson noted. “I’ve never seen basically a drive-by with paintballs.” During the course of his investigation, he interviewed an employee at Bass Food Mart who said the shootings began between 10:30 and 11 p.m. Wilson said, based on the course of the shootings, it’s likely the targets were not intentional. There are no current suspects, but video footage could provide more details. Wilson said one witness identified shooting coming from a Black Dodge Charger. Wilson suspects the vandals left the store and began a paintball spree until ammunition was no longer available.

Within hours, church member Shando Perkins came by to pressure wash the Files Chapel building. Church leaders said the physical damage was minimal but the impact is greater. Young has been a member for the last 30 years and says it’s disappointing for all those impacted by the vandalism. “It makes me feel sick to see something like this happen to God’s house. It’s not our house, it’s God's house. It’s unbearable; it’s a hurt feeling.”

Wilson said the investigation will continue with help from the community.

If you have any information regarding this case, please contact Lexington Crime Stoppers 336.243.2400.