By Dave Workman
Editor-in-Chief
A man described by the New York Post as a “gun control nut” was arrested and charged with vandalism for defacing the 9/11 Memorial in New York City on Monday, in front of witnesses, and then acknowledging it on an Instagram post.
Jonathan Andrew Tijerina, 31, described by Yahoo News as “a gun regulation activist,” reportedly faces charges of criminal mischief and graffiti. He spray painted the words “Juststopkillingkids.com” on the reflecting pool, over the names of many victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attack which brought down the Twin Towers. Also memorialized at the site were the victims of the Feb. 26, 1993 terrorist attack.
On video, the suspect declared, “My name is Jon Tijerina and I’ve just spray-painted ‘just stop killing kids’ on the 9/11 Memorial.”
After posting on Instagram about the incident, his message recieved uniform criticism.
His spray paint handiwork was quickly removed, according to the 9/11 Memorial and Museums. The estimated cost of the vandalism is more than $2,500, the New York Post reported.
The organization, “Juststopkillingkids,” declared, “On October 26, 2026, Jon Tijerina was arrested for spraying red paint on Freedom Tower in NYC. He is demanding that Trump and Mamdani enforce common-sense, highly popular demands with respect to guns such as Universal Background Checks and a National Gun Registry.”
The message also asserted, “The fact is: guns are a moral emergency in this country.” It further stated Tijerina “is taking responsibility for his actions and will face trial.
A spokesperson for the Memorial and Museum told CBS News, “The 9/11 Memorial is a sacred place of reflection at the heart of a rebuilt World Trade Center that honors the 2,983 victims killed in the September 11, 2001 and February 26, 1993 terrorist attacks. Yesterday’s brief incident was swiftly addressed by security staff and law enforcement, and the impacted area was immediately restored to its commemorative state.”
