'But why?': Investigators seek 2 men recorded destroying Lake Mead ancient rock formation

An ancient rock formation near Lake Mead that was pushed off a cliff and obliterated on April 7 now has authorities searching for two accused vandals.

The crime is depicted in a widely circulated cell phone video showing two men deliberately push the top of the rock formation down the sharp and narrow canyon of the Redstone Dunes Trail, according to the Lake Mead National Park Service.

The two men are shown scaling the steep rockface accompanied by a child, heard in the video screaming "Don't fall!" to one of the men she called dad.

The men push the seemingly fragile rocks down the canyon twice, destroying the formations to rubble as the group of three watch it without much visible reaction.

"But why?" a spectator can be heard in the video near the location.

According to the park's website, the rock formations dated as old as 140 million years ago are federally protected.

Anyone with information was asked to contact National Park Service investigators at a nationwide tip line, 888-653-0009, or online at go.nps.gov/SubmitATip.

The public affairs office of the Lake Mead Recreation Area did not immediately respond to a request for more information.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: National Park investigators seek Lake Mead ancient rock vandals