14-year-old boy charged with arson in fire at Black church in York County, sheriff says
A South Carolina juvenile has been charged with arson after a fire at a Black church near Rock Hill in April prompted a federal and local investigation, sheriff’s officials said.
The suspect, a 14-year-old male, is charged with third-degree arson in connection with the fire at Catawba Chapel A.M.E Zion Church, said Cpl. Johnathan Gilbert, a spokesman for the York County Sheriff’s Office.
The suspect was arrested and is in the custody of the S.C. Department of Juvenile Justice, Gilbert said. It remains unclear when the suspect will appear in York County Family Court.
Third-degree arson is a felony under South Carolina law.
The church in York County near the Chester County line on Hall Spencer Road is made up predominantly of African-American members.
The crime does not appear to be racially motivated, Gilbert said in a written statement to The Herald.
The name of the suspect was not released because of his age.
Damage to pews at the front of the church was estimated at about $40,000, officials said in a sheriff’s office incident report. No one was hurt.
Church members discovered there had been a fire in late April when they prepared the church for Sunday worship, Sheriff Kevin Tolson said.
The investigation included federal, state and local law enforcement, according to Tolson. The sheriff’s office, York County Fire Marshal’s Office, FBI, ATF, and South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division all were involved, according to documents obtained by The Herald.
This story was originally published May 17, 2022 at 4:56 PM.
