Police arrested a woman in Atlanta, Georgia, after she attempted to burn down the birthplace of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., according to WSBTV.
Two off-duty NYPD officers visiting the city detained Laneisha Shantrice Henderson after she was stopped by two Utah tourists who witnessed her dousing the house with gasoline while dressed all in black, WSBTV reported. Atlanta police say the 26-year-old has been charged with arson as well as with criminal attempted interference with government property, due to the home’s status as a National Historical Park, per the outlet. She may also face federal charges. (RELATED: Judge Hands Down Sentence For Teenage Synagogue Arsonist)
“It could have been a matter of seconds before the house was engulfed in flames,” said Atlanta Fire Department Battalion Chief Jerry DeBerry, according to WSBTV.
The King Center released a statement regarding the recent attempt to set fire to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birth home pic.twitter.com/q499vpzTji
— The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center (@TheKingCenter) December 8, 2023
In a statement, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change expressed its gratitude to law enforcement and to the witnesses who intervened.
“Tonight, an unfortunate incident occurred at the birth home of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as an individual attempted to set fire to this historic property,” the King Center posted to Twitter.
Earlier this in December, a woman doused herself in gasoline and lit herself on fire in front of Israel’s Atlanta consulate to protest the country’s ongoing war against Hamas.