Video Shows Vandal Hurl Red Paint Over Trump Tower BLM Mural

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — The NYPD released security footage Tuesday that shows the moment a man vandalized the Black Lives Matter mural in front of Trump Tower by dumping a single can of red paint on the artwork.

Police are releasing photos and videos of the man in hopes of identifying the suspect, who is currently wanted on criminal mischief charges, an NYPD spokesman said. The vandal approached the mural, on Fifth Avenue between West 56th and 57th streets, around 12:15 p.m. and splattered a container of red paint on the street, police said.

The man, who was wearing all black, ran from the scene down West 56th Street and was able to avoid arrest, police said.

The mural was installed last week following a push by Mayor Bill de Blasio to paint the message on the block of Trump's Midtown skyscraper. The city has spent an estimated $6,000 from the Department of Transportation's budget to install six Black Lives Matter murals at locations throughout the city's five boroughs.

President Donald Trump lashed out on Twitter after de Blasio targeted the stretch of Fifth Avenue for a Black Lives Matter mural, calling the artwork a "symbol of hate."

"NYC is cutting Police $'s by ONE BILLION DOLLARS, and yet the [mayor] is going to paint a big, expensive, yellow Black Lives Matter sign on Fifth Avenue, denigrating this luxury Avenue. This will further antagonize New York's Finest, who LOVE New York & vividly remember the horrible BLM chant, 'Pigs In A Blanket, Fry 'Em Like Bacon,'" Trump tweeted when the city announced plans for the mural.

See the moment the vandal strikes below: