Man recruited 12-year-old to paint racist graffiti on Black church in Michigan, feds say
As a pastor arrived at his church in Michigan on a Sunday morning, he saw disturbing and racist graffiti — including the word “die” and multiple swastikas — spray-painted across the outside of the building, federal prosecutors said.
Greater New Life Church in Roseville — which has a predominantly Black congregation — was targeted Oct. 24, 2021, in a racially motivated attack, according to court documents and photos shared by CBS.
Now, 34-year-old David Bluer has been sentenced to one year in prison for the vandalism, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan said in a March 19 news release.
Bluer pleaded guilty in December to damaging religious property, McClatchy News previously reported.
“(Bluer’s) attack, motivated by race and color, instilled fear in not only the mostly Black congregants of the church, but damaged the entire community’s sense of safety,” Acting U.S. Attorney Julie Beck said.
Bluer’s attorneys declined to comment when reached by McClatchy News on March 20.
According to court records, Bluer, who was 31 at the time, recruited a 19-year-old and a 12-year-old to spray paint racist symbols on the church.
He later admitted to vandalizing the church “because the church serves a predominantly Black congregation and has a Black pastor,” attorneys said.
“Bluer’s conduct is even more reprehensible because he recruited and pressured two younger individuals, including a minor, to be his accomplices,” attorneys said.
Roseville is about a 20-mile drive northeast from Detroit.
This story was originally published March 21, 2025 at 10:52 AM with the headline "Man recruited 12-year-old to paint racist graffiti on Black church in Michigan, feds say."
