Man facing charges after Paul Revere’s grave, Holocaust Memorial, cruiser damaged in vandalism spree

BOSTON — A man was arrested Sunday morning in connection with a vandalism spree that left Paul Revere’s grave, the Holocaust Memorial, and a Boston police cruiser damaged.

Lawrence Hawkins, 46, of Boston, is slated to be arraigned Monday in Boston Municipal Court on charges including multiple counts of destruction of property, destruction of a place of worship, and defacing a burial site.

According to police, officers responded to the area of 125 Charles Street South for a report of a breaking and entering. When officers arrived on the scene, they located the front door of the business smashed in with a brick found inside.

Shortly after midnight, an officer who was starting his work shift noticed the front windshield of his cruiser smashed. A few hours later, officers responded to the area of 15 Sudbury Street, where they observed a window to be broken.

Police said officers were able to follow the suspect, later identified as Hawkins, through surveillance video and observed him throw an unknown item at the Holocaust Memorial located at 98 Union Street. Officers responded to that location and located a brick on the ground and vandalism to the memorial.

Around 3:00 a.m., officers responded to 15 Court Square for another report of vandalism. Officers noticed a broken glass window at the back of the business and also located a broken window at a nearby business at 201 Washington Street.

After further investigation, police checked the surveillance video and confirmed the description of Hawkins was similar to the prior incidents.

Officers were able to follow Hawkins through the video again and noticed him enter a shelter at 112 Southampton Street. An officer contacted the Newmarket Command Center who confirmed Hawkins was inside the shelter.

Around 4:30 a.m. officers responded to the shelter and arrested him.

Several hours later, officers responded to the Granary Burying Ground located in the area of Tremont Street where multiple tombstones, including Paul Revere’s, had been vandalized. A total of 14 tombstones were pulled from the ground and broken into pieces, police said.

As officers continued their investigation, they observed vandalism to six additional tombstones located in the adjacent King’s Chapel Burying Ground.

Police were able to view video surveillance, which allegedly showed a suspect matching the earlier description of the suspect who had been arrested.

An investigation is ongoing.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW

©2023 Cox Media Group