Church in south Oklahoma City destroyed with hotwired excavator

The roof, a sign and a cross on the campus were destroyed

The roof, a sign and a cross on the campus were destroyed

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The roof, a sign and a cross on the campus were destroyed

A church in south Oklahoma City was torn up with a hotwired excavator.

The roof, a sign and a cross on the campus were destroyed. According to police, someone hotwired a nearby excavator and used it as a wrecking ball.

"Somebody called us because that machine was running in the middle of the street," said Juan Diaz, the pastor.

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The pastor of Jesus Christ Is My Strength Church believed someone damaged his church with a hotwired excavator was an attack on Christianity.

"He came out straight to the big cross, and the big cross means Jesus Christ, God. He didn't touch the other two, the little ones," Diaz said.

OKC police said they're investigating it as vandalism, but it's too early to know the motive or if it would be ruled a hate crime. The pastor said he was at home when police called.

"He destroyed my sign where the name of the church was. Destroyed. Put it in pieces on the concrete," Diaz said.

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He said there were no cameras because they can't afford them, and he's not sure they'll catch the suspect.

"I don’t know why they did it. I don’t know," Diaz said.

Diaz said they're trying to figure out what's next.

"I tried to let the people know that we’re here and we need help," Diaz said.

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