Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birth Home Saved from Fire, Florida Woman Charged with Attempted Arson

A Florida woman, identified as Laneisha Shantrice Henderson, 26, has been charged with attempted arson and interfering with government property after a disturbing incident involving Martin Luther King Jr. birth home in Atlanta.

Henderson was captured on video pouring gasoline onto the historic property before allegedly attempting to set it ablaze. The incident occurred around 5:45 PM on Thursday, according to FOX News.

Henderson, dressed in all-black attire, was seen on camera emptying a large red fuel container onto the porch, windows, and plants of the wooden property on Auburn Avenue.

Two vigilant tourists in Atlanta for work from Utah confronted her when she failed to respond to their inquiries.

The witness footage captures the moment the suspect was restrained by the tourists and later apprehended by two off-duty NYPD officers. Atlanta police arrived promptly, effecting her arrest.

Henderson, reportedly grappling with mental health issues, was initially transported to Grady Detention Center for evaluation before being transferred to Fulton County Jail.

The motive behind her attempt to burn down the historic building remains unclear, and federal charges could be pending.

Eyewitness Account and Intervention

The witness video shows Henderson wielding a red gas canister while standing on the front porch, barefoot, and dousing Martin Luther King Jr. birth home with a flammable liquid, WRDW noted.

Concerned bystanders, including the two Utah tourists, noticed her pouring the liquid on the bushes. Suspicion arose when Henderson did not respond to queries about her actions.

Realizing it was gasoline, the tourists and other onlookers pleaded with her to stop, ultimately intervening physically to prevent a potential disaster.

Zach Kempf, one of the Utah men who intervened, described the situation as briefly alarming, given the uncertainty surrounding Henderson's intentions and potential possession of weapons.

"It was a little scary there for a minute because we didn't know who she was," said Kempf, adding that they did not know if the woman was carrying a weapon at the time of the incident.

Martin Luther King Jr. Birth Home Significance

The birth home, a two-story Queen Anne-style house constructed in 1895, served as the residence for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the initial 12 years of his life, per the Daily Beast.

Acquired by the National Park Service in 2018, the property was transformed into a museum.

The attempted arson prompted a response from The King Center, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving the legacy of Dr. King and his wife, Coretta Scott King.

In a statement, the center expressed gratitude for the intervention of samaritans and law enforcement, emphasizing their commitment to honoring Dr. King's monumental legacy.

Judy Forte, superintendent of the MLK Jr. National Historical Park, acknowledged the community's support and praised the quick action that thwarted the arson attempt, as per the HuffPost.

The Martin Luther King Jr. birth home, currently closed for an extensive rehabilitation project, is expected to remain inaccessible until November 2025.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Woman tries to burn down Martin Luther King Jr.'s birth home - From FOX 5 Atlanta