A pair of retired New York City cops may have stopped a possible race-baiting hoax that could have destroyed the historic birth home of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, city police arrested Laneisha Shantrice Henderson, a 26-year-old U.S. Navy veteran, after tourists detained her as she tried to pour gasoline on the entrance of the home, which is now a national historic site.
Henderson, who is black, was charged with a second-degree criminal attempt to commit arson and interference with government property.
The local media noted that two tourists from Utah first spotted Henderson dumping gasoline on the porch and shrubbery in front of King’s two-story birth home on Auburn Avenue. She ignored their questions as to why she was doing that.
Eventually, two other tourists, who were retired NYPD officers, stopped Henderson and detained her until Atlanta police arrived.
“That action saved an important part of American history tonight,” Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum told reporters.
“It could have been a matter of seconds before the house was engulfed in flames,” added Atlanta Fire Department Battalion Chief Jerry DeBerry.
No motive was immediately identified.
The Guardian, a left-wing news website, reported that Henderson’s family said she has mental health issues.
But some speculated on X (formerly Twitter) that Henderson sought to gin up a hate crime to be blamed on whites.
“The black woman face of white supremacy strikes again,” an X user with the handle Sandbag said in reply to conservative journalist Andy Ngo’s report on the crime. “Another race hoax stopped before it got going,” an X user named Alun Williams said in reply to Ngo.
The King Center, which documents the famous civil rights leader’s legacy, said in a statement, “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. 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.”
Henderson may also face federal charges, since the King home is a designated national landmark.
The Fox affiliate in Atlanta noted that the King home was closed while undergoing renovations.
Those improvements include fixes to the structure of the house, such as adding crawlspaces, window and door repairs, exterior siding and porch renovations, exterior painting, driveway repaving, replacement of the backyard fence, and drainage improvements. There is also electrical, HVAC, and fire suppression work.
The house is 128 years old. King lived there from birth until he was 12.
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