Lee County Sheriff's deputies are investigating after the words "white power" and a swastika were found spray-painted on the sign for Bonita Springs Middle School early Monday.
The graffiti on the sign, which is in front of the school on West Terry Street, was removed later that morning.
"I've lived here for 24 years now, and I've never seen anything like that," said Sam Humphrey, who lives on nearby Lavinka Street.
Humphrey, a World War II veteran, said he found the swastika symbol especially troubling. "It makes me feel very bad, because I fought against that during World War II," he said.
After the racially-charged graffiti was removed from the middle school's sign, a staffer was seen scrubbing something off the back of a "Do Not Enter" sign near West Terry Street and the school parking lot. If it was graffiti, it was unclear what it said.
"It worries me because it's right up my street," said Lisa Amodeo, who also lives on Lavinka Street near the middle school.
Amodeo said she hopes the offending message was only a bad idea for a prank by kids, and not a hate crime by adults.
"It's just very sad," she said. "I hope that these people are found for the safety of our community."
Fox 4 reached out to the Lee County School District for comment. A spokeswoman said that they can't comment on active investigations.
The middle school isn't the only school in Bonita Springs that was vandalized recently. Last week, the assistant principal at Bonita Springs Elementary School reported to the sheriff's office that someone damaged equipment and fencing at the school's playground, but did not wish to press charges.
