Swastikas scratched onto elderly woman's car

WASHINGTON DC (KTRK) -- A family is reeling after a 74-year-old woman had her car defaced by two swastikas Friday morning.

One of the swastikas was drawn on the hood of the car, and the other was found by the gas tank. There were also scratches down the length of the vehicle.

Fearing retaliation, the family asked that their identity be kept hidden, but one family member described the woman as "the sweetest, kindest, littlest old Indian lady."

The woman thinks the vandalism happened while her car was parked near some shops in Franconia, VA, Friday morning. Her son noticed the marks after the woman's trip to the store.

"I do think my mom was targeted because of what the symbol represents, which is hatred of those who are different," the woman's daughter told WJLA.

The family filed a police report, but Fairfax County was not able to confirm the details on Sunday night. There are no cameras facing the store's parking lot, says a store manager.

According to the woman's daughter, this is the third time the car has been keyed in the past year. The car will have to be repainted.

"If we could just at least learn to coexist peacefully, that would be amazing," the daughter said.