ATLANTA, GA — A woman was arrested after being accused of pouring gasoline onto the property of Martin Luther King Jr.’s home, according to the Atlanta Police Department.
Laneisha Shantrice Henderson, 26, was stopped by multiple bystanders around 5:45 p.m. Thursday before being arrested and charged with second-degree arson and interfering with government property, police said.
She was taken to Grady Detention Center and was set to be transferred to Fulton County Jail, according to police.
“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 Martin Luther King Jr. Center said in a statement shared on X. “Fortunately, the attempt was unsuccessful, thanks to the brave intervention of good samaritans and the quick response of law enforcement.”
The center expressed thanks to the Atlanta Police Department, the Atlanta Fire Department, the National Parks Service, and Mayor Andre Dickens for “leading the efforts to ensure the safety of our cherished national landmark and its adjacent neighbors.”
“Our prayers are with the individual who allegedly committed this criminal act,” the statement concluded.
Built in 1895, the two-story home at 501 Auburn Avenue Northeast is where King was born and lived the first 12 years of his life, according to the National Park Service. It is open for free tours most days of the year.
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