Tourists Detain Woman Trying to Burn Down Martin Luther King Jr.’s Childhood Home

A group of onlookers detained a woman on Thursday who was apparently trying to burn down Martin Luther King Jr.’s birth home in Atlanta, Georgia.

Two off-duty New York City Police officers along with two Utah tourists detained a woman who tried to burn down the house, according to local law enforcement.

Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum told news outlets that the two tourists reportedly witnessed a woman pouring what smelled like gasoline all over the front door of the house as well as on the plants and porch.

The two off-duty police officers detained the woman until local police arrived at the scene. A video posted to social media on Friday shows the suspect pouring liquid over the home.

Bystanders told the responding officer that they stepped in when they saw the suspect ignite a lighter.  Atlanta Police identified the woman as 26-year-old Laneisha Shantrice Henderson. She has been charged with 2nd-degree arson and interfering with government.

“Fortunately, the attempt was unsuccessful thanks to the brave intervention of Good Samaritans and the quick response of law enforcement … Our prayers are with the individual who allegedly committed this criminal act,” the King Center said in a statement.

Watch above via WSB-TV.