Laneisha Shantrice Henderson: Decorated Navy veteran arrested for arson attempt at Martin Luther King Jr's birth home
ATLANTA, GEORGIA: Officials report that the individual charged with attempting arson at the birth home of Martin Luther King Jr is a distinguished military veteran.
At 26 years old, Laneisha Shantrice Henderson served as a surface warfare specialist in the Navy and garnered numerous accolades during her military tenure.
Among the awards bestowed upon Henderson are the National Defense Service Medal and Good Conduct Medal. Additionally, she earned the Navy "E" Ribbon and various other commendations for her service.
What did Laneisha Shantrice Henderson do?
In a widely circulated video, a woman clad in all-black attire was recorded pouring liquid onto the windows of the Auburn Avenue house, located blocks away from the King Center, King National Historical Park, and the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church.
The individual identified in connection with the incident is Laneisha Shantrice Henderson. Two alert tourists intervened, putting a stop to her actions, and two off-duty NYPD officers subsequently apprehended her until Atlanta police arrived for her arrest.
Significantly, Henderson is now facing charges of attempted arson and interfering with government property. These charges arise from documented footage showing her pouring a flammable liquid from a large red fuel container onto the porch of the historic wooden property at approximately 5.45 pm on Thursday, December 7.
Zachary Eugene Kempf, a visitor from Utah who captured the incident, shared that he was in Atlanta for work and decided to visit the house. He started recording as he witnessed Henderson pouring gasoline around the premises.
The video also captured an NYPD officer restraining Henderson on the ground, hands secured behind her back. Subsequently, she was escorted by Atlanta police, appearing subdued and choosing not to make any remarks.
Additionally, Kempf noted that Henderson's family, present at the scene, claimed they had been searching for her, describing her as a veteran facing mental distress as per Fox News.
What happened to MLK Jr's birth home?
There were widespread speculations that the birth home of MLK Jr might have been compromised, potentially resulting in significant damages.
The Queen Anne-style structure, constructed in 1895, bears significant historical importance, serving as a commemoration of the early life of the civil rights leader and his siblings.
Battalion Chief Jerry DeBerry of the Atlanta Fire Department alerted reporters that, given the poured fuel, the home could have erupted in flames within seconds.
The fire department's HAZMAT team diligently worked to remove the gasoline on the property, while police confiscated a Chevrolet sedan believed to be associated with Henderson.
Highlighting the crucial role played by witnesses, Atlanta Fire Battalion Chief Jerry DeBerry underscored, "If the witnesses hadn't been here and interrupted what she was doing, I mean, it could have been a matter of seconds before the house was engulfed in flames," per Fox News.
DeBerry expressed gratitude over the fortuitous timing that prevented any damage to the property after the incident. Presently undergoing renovations, the historic home, Martin Luther King Jr's birthplace, remains off-limits to visitors until 2025.
