A 26-year-old woman attempted to set fire to the birth home of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Atlanta.
Bystanders, including two off-duty NYPD officers and two tourists from Utah, intervened and detained the woman until police arrived.
The King Center confirmed that the arson attempt was unsuccessful and expressed gratitude to the interveners and law enforcement.
The woman has been charged with criminal attempt to commit arson and criminal attempt to damage government property.
In a recent incident, a 26-year-old woman was arrested and charged with attempted arson after she attempted to set fire to the birth home of civil rights icon, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., in Atlanta. The woman reportedly poured gasoline onto the property, but was stopped by bystanders before she could ignite the fire.
Among the bystanders were two off-duty NYPD officers and two tourists from Utah, who intervened and detained the woman until local law enforcement arrived at the scene. The suspect has been charged with criminal attempt to commit arson and criminal attempt to damage government property.
The King Center, an organization dedicated to the legacy of Dr. King, stated that the arson attempt was unsuccessful and expressed gratitude to the intervention of the good Samaritans and law enforcement. The incident is currently being investigated by multiple law enforcement agencies.
The historic property, which is owned by the National Park Service, is currently undergoing renovations and is expected to reopen in November 2025. Following the incident, the home will remain closed until further notice.
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