Attempt to Burn Down Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birth Home Thwarted

26-Year-Old Veteran Arrested, Charged with Attempted Arson and Interference with Government Property

Atlanta police arrested 26-year-old Laneisha Shantrice Henderson for allegedly attempting to set fire to the birth home of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Henderson was stopped by two tourists from Utah and two off-duty New York Police Department officers who were also visiting the home.
Henderson has been charged with second-degree attempted arson and interference with government property.
Henderson's family, who arrived on the scene later, described her as a veteran in mental distress.
The home, a federal landmark where King spent the first 12 years of his life, is currently closed for renovations.