Stay Connected
Atlanta Black Star/Politics/National
NationalNewsRace

Louisiana Teen Accused of Setting Fire to Black Church, Stealing Utility Trucks

Posted byBy Tanasia Kenney | Published on: CommentsComments (0)
Black Church

St. Paul Baptist Church’s new sanctuary was damaged in the fire. (Photo by Darius Kendricks/KNOE)

A Louisiana teen faces multiple charges after authorities say he stole two Entergy utility trucks and set fire to an African-American church.

Richland Parish Sheriff Gary Gilley said he received reports of a fire at St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church shortly before 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 31. The fire burned the church’s new sanctuary but spared its centuries-old local community building, the News Star of Monroe reported.

The church just recently celebrated its 137th anniversary. Witnesses said they talked to the young white driver of an Entergy Corp. truck seen leaving the scene shortly before smoke began rising from the building. By the time emergency and fire officials arrived, the church was engulfed in flames.

Police later found the vehicle in Caldwell Parish with the suspect inside and confirmed his connection to the crime. Sheriff Clay Bennett said the teen was also involved in the theft of a second Entergy truck from a lot next to Caldwell Parish High School. Police believe he used the truck to ram several other vehicles at the school.

Gilley said the suspect will face an arson charge in Richland Parish. Pending charges in Caldwell Parish remain unknown. The Caldwell Sheriff’s office did not respond to requests for comment.

Independent journalism doesn't fund itself.

We hope this story was worth your time. For over 14 years, Atlanta Black Star has stayed Black-owned and independently run. We didn't get here by waiting on ad budgets that were never built to prioritize us. Our readers did that.

Corporate support for Black media has always been thin. Outlets like ours get roughly 1% of the $170 billion spent on U.S. advertising each year, and that margin is shrinking further as advertisers walk back the DEI-linked commitments they made in 2020. That's the backdrop. It's not why we're asking.

We know a request for support isn't why you came here. But without readers choosing to fund this work directly, the depth of reporting we can do at home and abroad shrinks along with everyone else's. If you're not in a position to give, that doesn't change how much we value you as a reader.

If you are able to, a recurring contribution does more for us than a single one-time gift, because it lets us plan the next investigation instead of just the next invoice. It takes about 30 seconds, no long form, no account. Thank you for continuing to support independent journalism and freedom of the press.

Give once Give monthly Support another way

Related Stories

Back to top