George Floyd mural destroyed by lightning strike, witnesses say — and reactions are particularly pointed



A George Floyd mural in Toledo, Ohio, was destroyed by what witnesses say was a lightning strike, police told WTVG-TV.

What are the details?

The building wall upon which the mural was painted collapsed, the station said, adding that WTVG's Doppler radar showed a lightning strike around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in the block where the building — which used to house the Mugshots Bar — is located.

In the aftermath, the station said Toledo police were seen outside the building and setting up tape around the pile of bricks upon which the artwork was crafted.

George Floyd Mural Reportedly Struck by Lightning in Toledo, Ohioyoutu.be

The building itself is structurally sound, a city building inspector told WTVG, and the owner of the building is working to clean up the bricks and tear down the rest of the mural wall.

The mural was painted in July 2020 — nearly one year to the date of its destruction, the station said. Groups have held memorial services for Floyd in front of the mural, WTVG noted, adding that one of them took place on the one-year anniversary of Floyd's death at the hands of Minneapolis police.

The City of Toledo said in a statement that officials will work with the arts commission on planning a new mural or help the commission and the artist find a new location, the station said, adding that they were heartbroken to see artist David Ross' work collapse.

What was the reaction to the mural's destruction?

Commenters had a bit of a field day reacting to a WTVG investigative reporter's tweet about the mural's demise:

  • "And they say God isn't real," one commenter wrote.
  • "I'm not a religious person whatsoever, but if there was ever an event that caused me to pause, this would be it," another user said. "Wow..."
  • "Warning — be on the lookout for liberal logic on this: Lightning struck the mural; There is more lightning because of climate change; Republicans don't believe in climate change; Republicans are all white racists; White racists therefore destroyed the mural," another commenter quipped.
  • "Now BLM gonna say that lighting strikes are racist, and they should check their privileges," another user observed.
  • "Was wondering why we wanted a mural of a criminal anyway," another commenter noted. "Of course it's awful he's dead, but that doesn't mean we should celebrate a guy who held a knife to a pregnant woman's belly."

The following video includes a snippet showing the mural prior to its destruction:

Toledo Black Lives Matter activists remember George Floyd one year lateryoutu.be

Nail-biting bodycam video shows hero cops run into war zone-like firefight in Toledo where 12 people were shot



Defying natural instinct, police officers ran toward danger and stormed into an all-out firefight in Toledo during the early hours on July 5. Bodycam video shows the brave cops attempting to save lives in Ohio as a hail of bullets were fired in the chaotic scene.

A Fourth of July block party in Toledo turned deadly when violence erupted at the celebration. Around 12:30 a.m. Monday, police were dispatched to the area of Lawrence and North Detroit Avenues. That is where 300 people were reportedly fighting. The fights escalated into gun violence, and multiple gunmen fired off more than 80 rounds, according to Toledo Police Chief George Kral.

Bodycam footage shows the police officers pull up to the block party, but instead of music blaring, there is the sound of gunshots and people hysterically screaming. Partygoers are seen racing away from the area. The officers repeatedly instruct innocent people to take cover as the cops advance toward the barrage of gunfire.

In near-complete darkness, the officers have only a split second to determine who is a bystander and who is a gunman. The scene resembles a war zone, and the officers must slowly advance by taking cover behind cars and any other structure to protect them from the possible threat.

"We've got multiple shooters everywhere," one officer warns.

A police officer instructs people, "Get down! Get down! Stay down!"

A woman is heard shrieking, "Somebody got shot!"

A cop screams, "Everybody stay down! Find cover!"

A truck is seen speeding away as shots continue to be fired, as seen in the nail-biting bodycam footage.

The unnerving video ends, but it doesn't show the entire story of the tragic scene. At least 12 people were shot, including one person who died from a gunshot wound. The victim was 17-year-old Stephon Johnson, a senior at Glass City Academy, who was airlifted to a hospital where he later died of his injuries.

"We need to know, we all need to know, my baby shine, I want his star to continue to shine," Stephon's mother said this week at a vigil for her deceased son. "He was a good kid, he didn't bother nobody. He looked out for all y'all, every last one of y'all."

Stephon's father called for someone to step up and reveal who his son's killer is.

"I know how the neighborhoods work, so I'm not expecting anybody to say anything, but it would be amazing and it would really lift weight off us if somebody said something because I know somebody knows something. The streets talk," Jorrel Johnson said.

Despite the distraught father's plea for witnesses to come forward with details of the shooting, police said that people at the block party are not cooperating with investigators. Police have yet to make any arrests in the mass shooting.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is offering a $5,000 reward for any information that will lead to the identification, arrest, and conviction of the shooters. Anyone with information should contact the ATF by calling 1-888-ATF-TIPS. Anyone with information can also call Crime Stoppers at 419-255-1111.

Content warning: Graphic video

Toledo police body cam footage shows the intense moments when officers arrived on the scene of the block party shoo… https://t.co/WqxjxS3S64

— WTVG 13abc (@13abc) 1625753749.0

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