Man used sledgehammer to remove head of Iwo Jima monument soldier, police say

The Prince William County Police Department said officers were called to the statue late Tuesday night. (WUSA)
Published: Oct. 23, 2026 at 4:12 AM EDT|Updated: 2 hours ago

QUANTICO, Va. (WUSA) — A man is accused of beheading one of the soldiers depicted at the Iwo Jima statue in Quantico, Virginia.

The Prince William County Police Department said officers were called to the statue late Tuesday night.

Officers found 27-year-old Miguel Alonso Maldonado Soriano vandalizing the monument with a sledgehammer, according to police.

Police said Soriano caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage to the statue and removed the head of one of the depicted soldiers.

Officers found 27-year-old Miguel Alonso Maldonado Soriano vandalizing the monument with a...
Officers found 27-year-old Miguel Alonso Maldonado Soriano vandalizing the monument with a sledgehammer, according to police.(Prince William County Police Department)

Soriano was arrested and faces charges of felony destruction of property, trespass with intent to damage property and felony injury to a monument.

He was held without bond pending a court appearance.

There is no word on a motive.