Tennessee deputies are investigating after racial slurs and graphic images of male genitals were spray-painted on a church this week.
Pastor James Mitchell of Napier Pentecostal Church in Hohenwald, Tennessee, said he discovered graffiti when he arrived at the church on Wednesday afternoon.
Mitchell said swastikas, explicit pictures of male genitals, racial slurs and other phrases were spray-painted on the outside of the building.
Mitchell said that when he discovered the vandalism he was "a little heartbroken that someone would do something like this at a church, especially ours".
Mitchell stated that he immediately contacted the Lewis County Sheriff's Department and that once the investigators had documented the graffiti, he had begun to remove it from the building with the help of church members and campers nearby.
The Lewis County Sheriff's Department confirmed that they are investigating the case.
Mitchell said he believes a young person is responsible "because it's summer and teens can get bored." He also cited spelling mistakes as well as the type of spray-painted insults on the building.
Mitchell said he was not considering filing a complaint.
