St. Louis police have charged a man in two of a series of church arsons around the city.
Today, police announced the arrest of 35-year-old David Lopez Jackson. He is black and most, but not all of the churches burned served black congregations. Officials say they are not sure of the motive, but the fires had stoked concern about racial targeting after renewed Ferguson riots and this year’s massacre at a South Carolina church.
Mayor Francis Slay held a press conference Friday afternoon, saying the fires affected the “foundation of the community.”
Jackson is a suspect in the other fires, but the is charged after evidence was found at New Life Missionary Baptist and Ebenezer Lutheran churches, police say. Surveillance camera footage shows Jackson’s car at the scene of one of the fires.
Slay says community involvement led to the arrest.
Jackson is being held on a $75,000 cash bond.