MLK home: Onlookers thwart effort to incinerate Dr King's childhood house
Vigilant onlookers intervened when a woman tried to ignite the childhood residence of Martin Luther King Jr in Atlanta, Georgia, according to police reports.
Authorities stated that the swift response "preserved a significant piece of American heritage".
The suspect is currently detained facing accusations of attempted arson and meddling with governmental property, following alleged actions of dousing the residence with gasoline.
The double-decked residence where Dr. King resided for his initial 12 years is recognized as a national monument.
The National Park Service took over the inside of the property in 2018. It has been shut off from public access since the previous month for maintenance and refurbishment.
Police officers were dispatched to handle an ongoing act of vandalism in Auburn Avenue Historic District of the city, around 17:45 local time, or 22:45 GMT, on Thursday, according to a press statement from the Atlanta police.
The suspect was identified as 26-year-old Laneisha Shantrice Henderson on Friday.
The father and three siblings of Ms. Henderson, who came to the location after the incident, portrayed her as a troubled veteran, according to a witness who spoke to the New York Times.
The police stated on Thursday evening that the suspect would undergo a psychological assessment prior to being moved to the community detention center.
A video given to the local WSB-TV news station depicts a woman clad entirely in black, pouring liquid over the front porch and windows of a house.
When the police got there, two filmmakers from Utah who were guests and a pair of off-duty New York police officers, also guests, had already apprehended the suspect. This information was relayed to journalists by Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum.
Zach Kempf, one of the movie makers, informed the New York Times that he initially assumed the woman was hydrating plants in front of the house. However, she then rapidly ascended the stairs and yanked the front screen door.
She remained silent when questioned about her actions. She was seen emptying a large, five-gallon container, then throwing it into the shrubs. Afterwards, she picked up a lighter that was lying on the ground, he noted.
Mr. Kempf, aged 43, mentioned that the lady exuded a "tense vibe" yet she didn't display any aggression and only departed when he obstructed her way physically.
He mentioned that he dialed 911 and yelled for assistance from two officers in New York, who pursued the perpetrator and held her down until the city's law enforcement arrived.
The local fire authorities reported that the house was not damaged, and a team specialized in handling dangerous substances was in charge of tidying up the area.
Fire chief Jerry DeBerry stated that if the onlookers hadn't arrived and disrupted her actions, the house could have been consumed by fire within seconds.
The crux of the matter was indeed the precise timing and the presence of observers at the correct location and moment.
The King Center announced that the attempt to set it on fire had failed due to the courageous actions of bystanders and the swift response from the police.
"We are sending our thoughts to the person who is accused of carrying out this illegal deed," was further mentioned.
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