MLK home: Onlookers thwart effort to incinerate Dr King's childhood residence
Vigilant spectators intervened when a woman tried to ignite the childhood residence of Martin Luther King Jr in Atlanta, Georgia, according to the police.
Authorities stated that the swift response "preserved a significant segment of American heritage."
The suspect is being held on allegations of trying to set fire and meddling with state-owned property, supposedly by dousing the dwelling with gasoline.
The double-decked residence where Dr. King lived for his initial 12 years is a nationally recognized historic site.
The National Park Service took ownership of its interior in 2018 and it has been inaccessible to the public since the previous month due to refurbishments and upgrades.
Police were dispatched to handle an ongoing act of vandalism occurring in Auburn Avenue's Historic District in the city, around 5:45 PM local time (10:45 PM GMT) on Thursday, as stated in a press statement by Atlanta's law enforcement.
The individual identified as the suspect on Friday was 26-year-old Laneisha Shantrice Henderson.
The father and three siblings of Ms. Henderson, who reached the location after the incident, portrayed her as a mentally troubled veteran, according to a bystander who spoke to the New York Times.
According to the police on Thursday night, the suspect is set to undergo a psychological assessment before being moved to the nearby detention center.
A clip given to the local WSB-TV news station depicts a woman clad in all black, pouring a liquid on the veranda and the home's front windows.
When the police got there, the culprit had already been restrained by two filmmakers from Utah who were visiting, along with two New York police officers who were off-duty and also visiting the residence, as informed by Atlanta's Police Chief, Darin Schierbaum, to the press.
Zach Kempf, one of the movie makers, admitted to the New York Times that his first impression was that the woman was simply hydrating the bushes outside the house. However, she then suddenly ascended the stairs and yanked the main screen door.
He recounted how she remained silent when questioned about her actions. She was seen pouring out whatever was in a large five-gallon jug, then discarded it into some nearby shrubbery. After that, she picked up a lighter that was previously left on the lawn.
Mr. Kempf, aged 43, described the woman as being anxious but not confrontational, and she left once he obstructed her way.
He claimed to have dialed 911 and yelled for assistance from two New York policemen, who pursued the culprit and held her back until local law enforcement came.
Fire authorities in the area confirmed that the house was not damaged and a team handling dangerous substances was tidying up the site.
Fire chief Jerry DeBerry expressed that had the onlookers not been present and interfered with her actions, the house might've been consumed by fire in mere seconds.
The crux of the matter was essentially the synchrony and the presence of the observers at the exact needed moment.
The King Center announced that the attempted arson was thwarted due to the courageous actions of helpful bystanders and the timely arrival of the police.
"We extend our thoughts to the person who is accused of carrying out this unlawful deed," was further stated.
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See: A multitude commemorates the 60th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr's renowned 'I have a dream' oration.
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