Sometime during the early morning of Tuesday, June 19, an unknown suspect broke into New Zion Baptist Church through a back window, and proceeded to the pastor’s office and started a fire.
However, the suspect closed the door of the office preventing the fire from spreading to the rest of the church. The pastor’s office was completely destroyed, while the rest of the church sustained smoke damage.
Sheriff Jason Pugh said, “For whatever reason, when they set the fire they closed the door, and the fire smoldered in that office for an unknown period of time. Thankfully, the church didn’t burn and we were able to collect come physical evidence.”
Arson Investigator Keith Alexander and representatives from the Mississippi Fire Marshal’s office, ATF and FBI responded to the incident and collected evidence which is being analyzed in the hopes of leading authorities to the person responsible.
Pugh added that they do have a suspect, but are not at the point of making an arrest at this time.
New Zion Baptist Church which is located on New Zion Road., northwest of Louisville was destroyed by arson in the early 90s.
If you have information regarding this crime please contact the Winston County Sheriff's Office or Winston County Crime Stoppers at 662-773-9999.
