City officials in Ferguson, Mo. have announced that they will replace the tree planted to commemorate the life of Michael Brown. Brown, 18, was shot and killed by former Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson last August, and the tree was found damaged on Sunday.
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, a sapling donated by the Black Caucus of the American Library Association was planted in Ferguson's January-Wabash Park. Police say the homage to Brown and another sapling dedicated to a dead pet were chopped "at the trunk," and that the commemorative plaques on their bases were also removed. Furthermore, police suspect the acts of vandalism occurred on Saturday night or during the wee hours of Sunday morning.
There are no witnesses and police currently have no leads in the crime, but the Post-Dispatch reports that the trees and plaques will be replaced this week.
[via St. Louis Post-Dispatch]
