Suspected arsonist arrested in Nashville courthouse fire

Wesley Somers, 25, was charged with felony aggravated arson for allegedly setting the Nashville historic Courthouse on fire.

By WKRN June 1, 2020 1:52 pm

Clarksville NowA fire is started outside the Metro Courthouse in Nashville, Tennessee, on Saturday, May 30, 2020, after the “I Will Breathe” rally to protest the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died after being pinned down by a white Minneapolis police officer on Memorial Day. Police identified the man shown as Wesley Somers, 25, and charged him with arson on Sunday. (Photo: Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean)A fire is started outside the Metro Courthouse in Nashville, Tennessee, on Saturday, May 30, 2020, after the “I Will Breathe” rally to protest the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died after being pinned down by a white Minneapolis police officer on Memorial Day. Police identified the man shown as Wesley Somers, 25, and charged him with arson on Sunday. (Photo: Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean)

Nashville, Tenn. (WKRN) -A photograph of a man setting fire to the historic courthouse in Nashville on Saturday during the “I Will Breathe” protest and information from citizens led to the suspected arsonist being arrested.

Nashville Metro police along with SWAT officers arrested 25-year-old Wesley Somers on charges of felony arson, vandalism and disorderly conduct.

BREAKING: Specialized Investigations Division detectives & SWAT officers moments ago arrested Wesley Somers, 25, on charges of felony arson, vandalism, & disorderly conduct for setting fire to Nashville's Historic Courthouse Saturday night. pic.twitter.com/tg0AFrU3OP

— Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) June 1, 2020

Somers was arrested Sunday evening at a home on Manzano Road in Madison.

Members of the community led to his identification and subsequent arrest. He was charged with felony aggravated arson, arson, disorderly conduct and vandalism under $1,000 booked into the Metro jail on $480,000 bond.

The investigation into the arson attack at the courthouse and other vandalism across Nashville is ongoing.

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