2 Arrested After Stolen Bronze Statue Of Tuskegee Airman Recovered
A 600 pound statue of Lt. Col. Alexander Jefferson was found on Oct. 25 after it was stolen from Detroit’s Rogue Park announced the Detroit Police Department.
According to The Associated Press, the bronze statue of Jefferson was sawed off at its ankles.
Investigators for the department believe that it was stolen sometime between Oct. 23 and Oct. 24.
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said officers determined the time of the theft by canvassing the neighborhood and pulling security footage.
“(Officers) found out the person who rented it was suspected of other robberies,” Duggan told reporters at a press conference. “They ran him down in real-time, caught him. He turned over the statue, confessed, and we made two arrests.”
According to the Detroit Free Press, authorities believe the statue was stolen and transported via a moving truck.
The city installed the life-sized statue of Jefferson near an area of the park where he often flew model planes before he died in June 2022 at 100 years old.
Jefferson’s granddaughter, Ernestine Lavergne said in a statement on Oct. 24 that the theft saddened and disheartened her family.
“This statue has stood not just as a piece of art, but as a symbol of our community’s history, values, and collective memory. To many, it represents a cherished reminder of our shared past and the lessons we carry forward,” Lavergne said.
She continued, “This act of theft goes beyond vandalism; it is a loss to everyone who found meaning, connection, and pride in that statue and the heroic actions of the Tuskegee Airmen. We ask that anyone with information come forward to help us restore this important symbol to its rightful place.”
Lavergne concluded, “Despite this unfortunate event, we remain united as a community. We will not allow this incident to diminish the pride we feel in our shared heritage.”
Jefferson was a member of the famed Red Tails group who flew during World War II. During one mission in 1944, he had his plane shot down and was captured as a prisoner of war.
Jefferson would return home to Detroit after he was released. The airman later became a teacher and helped create a Tuskegee Airmen chapter in Detroit.
His statue was unveiled in Detroit in June 2024 and the ceremony was attended by Mayor Duggan, the family of Jefferson, and his former students.
“Lt. Col. Jefferson was a hero in every sense of the word and so richly deserves this honor,” Mayor Duggan said during the statue’s unveiling.
Duggan continued, “He distinguished himself as a Tuskegee Airman and prisoner of war in World War II, and again at home as a celebrated educator. The people of Detroit are deeply grateful to him for his service, and this plaza and statue is a reflection of our collective appreciation.”
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