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A 21-year-old man went into an art museum and damaged $5 million worth of rare ancient Greek treasures after a fight with his fiancée.
Security guards detained Brian Hernandez, 21, during his Wednesday night rampage at the Dallas Museum of Art.
He then told Dallas cops he damaged the priceless ancient artwork because he was “mad with his girl.”
Hernandez ruined at least three 2,500-year-old Greek antiques before he arrived.
He also shattered a current Native American object, a Greek cup dating from roughly 540 BCE, and the museum’s glass entrance door.
Hernandez’s fury was estimated to be worth $5,153,000 at the time.
Hernandez is seen on security video smashing two display cases and other pieces of antique art with a stool, according to police. Two of the pieces were a pair of pots worth $5 million when purchased combined.
At one point, he grabbed up a $10,000 contemporary Native American porcelain effigy and slammed it to the ground, shattering it into pieces. He also destroyed a $100,000 ancient Greek cup.
‘The things that were damaged within the exhibit cases are rare ancient relics that are exceedingly valuable and one of a kind,’ police claimed in an affidavit.
Hernandez began his rampage at 9:40 p.m. on Wednesday night, when he smashed the museum’s glass front door with a metal chair.
Hernandez is seen on security video smashing two display cases and other pieces of antique art with a stool, according to police. Two of the pieces were a pair of pots worth $5 million when purchased combined.
At one point, he grabbed up a $10,000 contemporary Native American porcelain effigy and slammed it to the ground, shattering it into pieces. He also destroyed a $100,000 ancient Greek cup.
‘The things that were damaged within the exhibit cases are rare ancient relics that are exceedingly valuable and one of a kind,’ police claimed in an affidavit.
Hernandez also wrecked a telephone, a computer, and a bench, in addition to the antiques.
After a motion detection sensor went off, a security guard discovered Hernandez on the museum’s main concourse. When the guard inquired about Hernandez’s actions, he stated that “he got furious at his girl and broke in and started smashing everything.”
Hernandez allegedly dialed 9-11 from within the museum, according to police. Around 10:10 p.m., police arrived on the scene.
According to authorities, Hernandez was apprehended and admitted his crimes to officers.
In a statement released on Thursday, museum director Agustn Arteaga said the institution is working with insurers to assess the damage, adding that the estimate could be lower than the initial $5 million figure.
‘We believe the true cost will be a fraction of the $5 million estimate,’ he said.
On Thursday, the museum reopened, but some of the areas Hernandez vandalized remained blocked as the inquiry continued.
