Tatyana Ross
Editor-in-Chief
Jackson State University students and employees awoke to the news that seven fires had been intentionally set in the surrounding community, including one at the JSU baseball field.
The fires were mysteriously set on eve of the important midterm elections.
According to WLBT News, the suspect has been identified as 23-year-old Devin McLaurin. Hinds County Sheriff Tyree Jones said McLaurin was arrested in Terry, Miss., after a tip. McLaurin is expected to be transferred to the Jackson Police Department for further questioning with representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigations in attendance to see if any hate crimes were committed.
JSU students had this to say about the fires.
Alfred Allen, a freshman biology/pre-medicine major from Milwaukee, Wis. said that he believes the arson incidents were alarming to students and motivated by malice.
“More often, numerous fires can point towards arson in which malcontent is the motive. This should be top priority for the Jackson Police Department (JPD),” said Allen.
Henry Pegues also feels that these incidents should be priority for JPD.
“They need to investigate where this person came from and also find ways to prevent this from happening again,” said Pegues, a junior journalism and media studies major from Clinton, Miss.
Stanley Powell, a freshman theatre major from Crystal Springs, Miss., was surprised by the incidents.
“I kind of feel like it’s really weird. Like I wouldn’t expect someone to burn down several areas and so this really caught me off guard with the recent places being set on fire,” said Powell.
The seven locations set on fire included:
- Greater Bethlehem Temple Church
- Epiphany Church at 1230 Isaiah Montgomery
- Baseball Field on JSU Campus
- Gas Station on Terry Road
- Central Street and Dalton
- 1101 Pascagoula Street
- Terry Road and Cherry Street
Public Safety at Jackson State released the following alert to students and employees via email on Nov. 8. It read in part:
The Department of Public Safety is working with local and state law enforcement and fire officials to solve the arsons which took place this morning on and around the JSU campus. A person of interest has been identified.
Crime Alerts and updates are posted in an effort to make the JSU community aware of any situation that has posed a potential threat to the safety and well-being of those who live, work, study and visit the campus. By keeping you aware of crimes occurring in your community, JSU Department of Public Safety hope to encourage you to continue being actively involved in crime
prevention and reporting.
Students at Jackson State University and residents of the West Jackson community are eager to find out the motivation for the rash of arson incidents.
“I feel that’s it goes to show that people really don’t care about the things they do or the people it will affect,” said Da’Maje Russell, a freshman chemistry major from Memphis, Tenn.
Brylyia Baptiste, a junior early childhood education major from New Orleans, La., was concerned about the well-being of herself and her peers.
“Personally, because of the incidents around our school, this makes me worry about not only my safety but other students as well.”
Tatyana Ross and Alivia Welch contributed to this article.
