A homeless man accused of setting fire to the South Bushwick Reformed Church in Brooklyn has admitted to the act, and prosecutors revealed that he possessed notebooks containing violent target lists and plans for more attacks. John Jones, 24, was arrested Wednesday and confessed to law enforcement that he ignited the blaze that engulfed the 173-year-old church on June 19.
Prosecutors stated that Jones admitted to recently attempting to burn down a second church in Brooklyn. His alleged notebook included a chart with handwritten categories for violent targets, such as "murder them," "kill them," "stab them," "make them pay," and "rape him," alongside tally marks and repeated misspellings of the word "church."
Jones faces a federal charge of arson in connection with the South Bushwick Reformed Church fire. If convicted, he could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Prosecutors have requested that Jones be held without bail, and he was expected to be arraigned on Friday. "This defendant placed countless Brooklyn residents at risk when he recklessly set fire to the South Bushwick Reformed Church in broad daylight," NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said in a statement. "New Yorkers deserve to practice their faith freely and without fear, and the destruction of this sacred New York City landmark will be met with swift justice."
Jones was identified after surveillance video captured him attempting to enter the church. After being denied entry, he reportedly purchased a lighter across the street and was later seen returning to the church. Surveillance footage then showed a large plume of smoke rising from the building.
The fire caused significant damage to the historic church, destroying its spire and much of its interior. Thousands of historic artifacts were also lost. The South Bushwick Reformed Church was constructed in the 1850s and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982, also designated a New York City Landmark in 1968.
FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore stated, "The intentional burning of a house of worship is an attack on a historic building and on the sense of safety and community it represents. This fire placed lives at risk, including the first responders who responded to protect the church and the surrounding neighborhood."
Jones was apprehended on Wednesday while attempting to shoplift from a CVS in Midtown Manhattan. He appeared in Manhattan Criminal Court on Thursday on the shoplifting charge and was held without bail.