ATLANTA (TND) — The woman accused of trying to set the Georgia birthplace of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on fire has been identified.
The Atlanta Police Department said in a news release that Laneisha Shantrice Henderson, 26, was arrested and charged with attempted arson in the second degree and interfering with government property. Henderson was taken to Grady Detention for evaluation and will be transported to the Fulton County Jail.
Preliminary investigation indicates Henderson had poured gasoline on the property on Auburn Avenue near the King Center on Thursday evening, police said in the release. WSB-TV reports that two off-duty NYPD officers who had been visiting the center detained her until police could arrive.
Police bodycam footage shows officers responding to the incident and taking Henderson into custody. Witnesses can be heard talking about the woman unscrewing a gas can and pouring gas onto the porch, which is also seen in a video shared by WSB.
When they realized what was going on they started to plead with Ms. Henderson to stop, but she was ignoring them," the incident report says. "It also seemed as if she started to rush and pour the gasoline out faster on and around the historical house. They saw no other option but to try to apprehend her, along with the help of other bystanders in the area, they tried to get her detained.""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 center tweeted in a statement Thursday. "Fortunately, the attempt was unsuccessful, thanks to the brave intervention of good Samaritans and the quick response of law enforcement. We thank the Atlanta Police Department, 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 two NYPD officers were honored at a ceremony Saturday for their help in stopping the alleged arson attempt.
Henderson's motive is currently unknown. Police said the investigation is ongoing.
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