Community Victory: Arrest Made in Vandalism of East Nashville’s Iconic Rainbow Crosswalk

Almost two months after the historic rainbow crosswalk was painted in Nashville, an arrest has been made in the vandalism that occurred less than a week after its completion.

The first rainbow crosswalk in Middle Tennessee was pained by the community outside of the Lipstick Lounge in East Nashville on June 29, 2024. Less than a week later, on July 2, 2024, a man in a white work van vandalized it by dumping black paint over it.

The Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) released video of the event and it was shared far and wide in an attempt to identify the man.

Today authorities announced that 24-year-old Isaiah D. Tester from Murfreesboro has been charged in connection with the incident after a tip to crime stoppers. He was taken into custody at his home and booked on a charge of vandalizing government property.

According to police, their investigation showed Tester worked for a vehicle window replacement company and was driving one of his employer’s vans on July 2 and, they believe, Tester used a windshield prep primer to deface the crosswalk. 

Authorities reported that in an interview with detectives this afternoon, Tester admitted to the vandalism . MNPD also reported Tester is no longer employed by the window replacement company.

The crosswalk, a collaboration between the Metro Nashville LGBTQ Caucus, Councilmember Clay Capp, NDOT, and Nashville Pride, was repainted shortly after the vandalism.