Miguel Alonso Maldonado Soriano, 27, a Mexican national living in Stafford, Virginia, has been charged with attacking the Iwo Jima Memorial near Marine Corps Base Quantico with a sledgehammer. Prince William County police discovered him damaging the monument at approximately 10:15 p.m. last Wednesday, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.

The memorial is located along Joplin Road and U.S. Highway 1, near the entrance to the Marine Corps installation. It commemorates the U.S. Marines who fought in the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II, one of the most recognized battles in American military history.

According to an affidavit from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Soriano climbed down from the statue and surrendered without resistance when officers arrived. He was taken to the Garfield Police Station in Woodbridge for questioning.

During an interview with investigators, Soriano admitted damaging the memorial. He told a detective that he had retrieved the sledgehammer from his vehicle, where he kept it for his construction work.

A witness who called police also recorded video of the alleged attack and provided the footage to investigators, according to the affidavit.

Authorities said the damage included the complete removal of one statue’s head, the destruction of multiple rifle barrels and other damage to the memorial’s sculpted figures and weapons. Photographs included in the affidavit showed the detached head lying on the grass beside the monument.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Monday that Soriano remained in state custody. Once transferred to federal custody, he faces charges of willfully damaging federal property and willfully damaging or destroying a monument commemorating military service.

If convicted, Soriano faces up to 10 years in prison. Prosecutors have not identified a motive for the alleged attack.