Historic church in Ridgewood riddled with bullets

RIDGEWOOD, N.J. (WABC) -- A historic church was riddled with bullets in Ridgewood, New Jersey.

It happened on December 26th in the early morning hours at the Old Paramus Reformed Church.

At least 30 bullets damaged the brick facade and pierced the stained glass windows.

"That's just very disturbing to hear, I mean it's such a beautiful landmark. To have somebody vandalize it, yeah, I'm sure there are quite a few people that are distressed about that," said Lisa Larson, a resident.

The pastor of the church has no idea who would do this or why, and says they are leaving it up to the police to investigate.

The church has been on the grounds for 240 years and is even on the National Historic Register.

George Washington slept there from 1778-1780 and used the grounds as an encampment.

"It's devastating," said church historian Arlene Berlamino.

She says she can barely stand to look at the bullet-riddled stained glass windows, punctured despite a layer of protective glass, and the now pitted stone facade.

Berlamino says the damage inside is even more difficult to stomach.

"There are holes in the walls. There's holes in pews. You can see where they dug the bullets out-- the fragments," said Berlamino.

Police say there were no known threats against the church, nor against any of its 130 or so members. Detectives are continuing to investigate.

"We trust the Ridgewood Police Department and we know that they'll do a good job," said the pastor, Rev. Ron MIller.

The question being asked is, why target a local and national landmark?

"This building built out of stones from the building that survived the revolution and for it to sustain this in this day and age is senseless," said Berlamino.