Vandals scrawl 'Go back to Mexico' on Pittsburgh store

PITTSBURGH — Vandals targeted a Pittsburgh grocery store Tuesday.Someone wrote “Go back to Mexico now” on the Las Palmas grocery store on Brookline Boulevard.

“It just stings. It stings to see it," Brookline Chamber of Commerce president Nathan Mallory said.

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Mallory said he removed the message himself.

“The first thing that went through my mind is I want to get rid of it," he said.

The owner of the store next-door told Channel 11 News he is angry.

“It's uncalled for.  It's so un-American," Mel Abboud said. “I'm from Lebanon and I don't get any prejudice. The whole boulevard is full of Lebanese, Italians, Syrians.”

Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto stopped by the store Tuesday afternoon to show his support for the owner.

"Anybody who's a coward and decides to paint the side of the building, something that is pure hatred has no place in the city,” he said.

Investigators are looking into the incident. So far, the vandals have not been caught.

WPXI