Police are looking for whoever vandalized President Barack Obama's Westside re-election campaign office Thursday evening in Westchester.
The non-descript office, in the 6700 block of South Centinela Avenue, was repeatedly shot by someone with a BB gun, and an object -- possibly a crow bar -- was apparently thrown through a window, according to police.
It happened just before 7:30 p.m., while three staffers worked inside. They heard breaking glass and came out to find two glass panes shattered.
"I think it's really unfortunate," said Cari Coulam, who works two doors down in a separate building.
The act was disrespectful and troubling considering the president's plans to visit the Southland next week, said Coulam.
"It's the idea of what happened, not really the severity of what happened to the building," said Coulam.
Obama will be stopping in LA for fundraisers on Monday. Among his itinerary are a $250-a-head fundraiser at the House of Blues in West Hollywood and a Hollywood dinner at $17,000 a plate.
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Attacking a campaign office, so close to a presidential visit is serious enough that it's now getting the attention from federal law enforcement.
"We have to be concerned," said Morris Griffin, an Obama election volunteer.
He wasn't around when the attack occurred, but said that he wonders if someone who destroys property could become even more violent later, especially in such a volatile political climate.
"We're getting a different take from the other side and this is not going to work," said Griffin.
LA's FBI office confirms that it's offering investigative resources to LAPD detectives working the case. The U.S. Secret Service is also involved.
"The timeliness? I'm sure it was planned that way on purpose," said Vikki Valenzuela who lives a couple miles away from the office building.
Whether you support the president or not, busting out windows and endangering staff workers is a "cowardly" thing to do, said Valenzuela.
"There's other ways to express yourself, and I think vandalism is a very non-productive way of doing it", said Valenzuela.
