MLK residence: Onlookers thwart effort to incinerate Dr King's childhood home
Vigilant onlookers intervened when a woman tried to ignite Martin Luther King Jr's childhood home in Atlanta, Georgia, according to police.
Authorities stated that the swift response "preserved a significant aspect of American heritage".
The suspect is held under arrest for alleged arson attempt and meddling with state-owned property, following accusations of dousing a dwelling with gasoline.
The double-decked residence where Dr. King lived for his initial 12 years is recognized as a national monument.
The National Park Service took over its interior in 2018 and it has been shut off to the public since the previous month for maintenance and refurbishment purposes.
Police were called to an ongoing incident of vandalism in the Auburn Avenue Historic District of the city around 5:45 PM local time (10:45 PM GMT) on Thursday, according to a statement released by the Atlanta police.
The suspect, identified as Laneisha Shantrice Henderson, 26, was confirmed on Friday.
The father and three siblings of Ms. Henderson, who showed up at the scene after the incident, portrayed her as an experienced individual suffering from mental turmoil, according to a bystander who relayed the information to The New York Times.
Before being moved to the nearby detention center, the defendant is scheduled to undergo a psychological assessment, as stated by the police on Thursday evening.
A clip provided to the regional WSB-TV news station displays a woman clad entirely in black sprinkling the front porch and main windows of a house.
When the police got there, the individual in question had already been halted by two filmmakers from Utah who were visiting, as well as two off-duty New York police officers who were also guests at the house, according to Atlanta's Police Chief, Darin Schierbaum, in a press briefing.
Zach Kempf, one of the movie makers, informed the New York Times that his first assumption was that the lady was tending to the bushes in front of the home. However, she quickly ascended the stairs and tugged at the main screen door.
He said she remained silent when questioned about her actions. She was seen pouring out everything from a large, five-gallon container, then carelessly throwing it into the shrubbery. She then picked up a lighter that was lying on the lawn.
Mr. Kempf, aged 43, described the woman as being nervously energetic, though she wasn't hostile. She departed when he obstructed her way physically.
He mentioned that he dialed 911 and screamed for assistance to a pair of New York cops, who pursued the alleged culprit and held her under control until the area police showed up.
Fire authorities in the area stated that the house was not damaged and a team specialized in dealing with dangerous substances is currently handling the cleanup of the area.
Fire chief Jerry DeBerry stated that if the witnesses weren't present to disrupt her actions, the house could have been completely consumed by fire within a few seconds.
The crux of the matter was essentially the precise timing and the presence of the observers at the appropriate location when needed.
The King Center announced that an attempt to set the place on fire was thwarted "due to the courageous actions of helpful strangers and the swift reaction of the police".
"We extend our thoughts and prayers to the person accused of executing this crime," it further stated.
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To proceed with the video, JavaScript must be activated on your browser. View: Numerous individuals commemorate the 60th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr's renowned 'I have a dream' address.
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