A second suspect in the arson at a Homewood Walmart has been arrested and charged with arson and criminal mischief. According to the Homewood Police Department (HPD), Lillian Colburn and Mercutio Southall worked together to start the fire that caused over $130,000 in damages after attending a Black Lives Matter protest.
Colburn has a history of social media posts calling for people to "take revolutionary risks" and "make it dangerous." In one video, she said, "Non-violent protests only ever work if the government has a conscience and the United States has none."
Bond was set for him after prosecutors presented their case against the two.
AL(dot)com reported that the judge said, "[I]f the person who actually set the fire for whatever reason is not in custody, then this defendant certainly deserves a bond in this case."
Colburn was transported to the Jefferson County Jail, where she is currently being held without bond for the arson–first–degree charge due to Aniah's Law. According to HPD, the arrest was made with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force. Southall was with Colburn at the time of her arrest.
In a written statement, Sgt. Mark Trippe of the Homewood Police Department said that the city has evidence indicating Colburn attended the Black Lives Matter mass protest at Homewood Soccer Park around 11:35 a.m. on August 22.
"Colburn is seen actively engaging and conversing with protesters at the Soccer Park. Colburn then leaves the Soccer Park and travels to Walmart on Lakeshore Parkway with Mr. Southall, where they both fill up a shopping cart full of rags, blankets, charcoal bags, small engine fuel, and paint thinner," according to Trippe.
"Colburn and Southall then pre-position the shopping cart in a clothing aisle and leave the store. Colburn later returns to Walmart, proceeds directly to the pre-positioned shopping cart, pushes it into the center of the crowded store, and ignites the cart contents, causing a fire and mass evacuation."
Testimony at Southall's bond hearing showed that Colburn wore a disguise during the second visit. The two also swapped vehicles between trips.
"Flyers with Jabari Peoples' image and name were left at the arson scene. During the investigation, identical Jabari Peoples' flyers were recovered from a vehicle registered to Lillian Colburn," according to Trippe.
BLM continues to hold protests related to the officer-involved shooting of Jabari Peoples, which District Attorney Danny Carr said was "justified." Following the investigation by the state, the Peoples' family was able to view both raw body-cam footage and an enhanced version that slowed it down and showed a weapon in Peoples' hand at the time of his death.
Local law enforcement is said to be working with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms to pursue additional federal charges against both Colburn and Southall. Both are considered innocent until proven guilty.
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