The Jackie Robinson statue that was stolen from outside a youth baseball park last week has been located … but unfortunately for fans of the beloved tribute, it was found destroyed beyond repair.
Officials in Wichita, Kansas shared the sad news on Tuesday … saying the fire department received a call around 8:40 AM for a trash fire at a local park. Once the flames were extinguished, firefighters discovered pieces of bronze in the rubble, which turned out to be from the statue.
It was determined the Robinson figure — which stood outside League 42’s McAdams Park for years — was not salvageable.
City officials are already planning on making things right again for the community … with council member Brandon Johnson saying in a press conference he will ensure a replica statue will stand outside the ballpark again.
“We will continue to invest in this community, and this tragic incident will not remove that hope that we all have for the area,” Johnson said.
As we previously reported, the Robinson statue was taken early Thursday morning after someone cut it at the ankles and hauled it off in a truck.
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No arrests have been made at this time … but officials are calling on anyone with information to come forward.
A fundraiser has been set up for the replacement … with more than $11,000 raised, and an end goal of $100k.