Kelowna

Gallery 421 vandalized

Photo: Contributed - Ricardo Mendes

Stones used to smash windows

Photo: Contributed - Ricardo Mendes

Photo: Contributed - Ricardo Mendes

Photo: Contributed - Ricardo Mendes

Photo: Contributed - Ricardo Mendes

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Seven windows smashed with a sling shot and awnings slashed apart - a local art gallery appears to have been targeted by vandals.

Gallery 421 owner Jonn Einerssen says he was shocked when he arrived at work Tuesday morning and found the front of his business damaged.

He believes sling shots were used to smash the window after finding hand picked stones around the gallery.

"This is bad enough, but who's next....people?"

Although the gallery was not broken into - the glass was tempered and only the outer pane was smashed, Einerssen believes the building, which he shares with Classic Gallery Framing was targeted.

"We are not a controversial business and certainly no enemies that we are aware of. Same thing with my neighbour who's the nicest guy you'll ever meet. We are in the beautification business if nothing else I don't see why anybody would want to target an art gallery."

The building itself could be the possible target, according to Einerssen, as it was recently built.

"I really see this as a public safety issue if somebody is really walking around with this weapon shooting at buildings, how long before they target people?"

Cst. Kris Clark says the damage is estimated to be around $15,000 and there are no suspects at this time.

Gallery 421 and Classic Gallery Framing moved into the building in Jan. from their former location of 15 years on Cawston Avenue and are scheduled for their grand opening in two weeks.