Tagging suspect sought in Venice Vietnam wall vandalism

VENICE, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Authorities released a photo and the moniker of one of the taggers suspected of vandalizing the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Venice.

The memorial, located on a black wall along Pacific Avenue, was painted by a Vietnam veteran in 1992 and contains 2,273 names of prisoners of war or those missing in action.

Citizens noticed large graffiti on the wall not long before Memorial Day in May. The vandalism took up more than half of the bottom portion of the wall for much of its length. Residents from Lancaster and other areas in the Southland ended up coming out to repaint and clean up the graffiti.

The lead detective on the investigation, who is a graffiti and tagging expert, was able to identify the main monikers left on the wall: "Noner," "Pheb," "Snake" and "Liter." The detective also learned that "Noner" was linked to a tagging group based in the bay Area.

Authorities believe "Noner" may travel between Los Angeles and the Bay Area.

Anyone with more information is asked to call the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department Transit Policing Division at (888) 950-7233. Those wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.