Brooklyn man accused of setting blaze that destroyed historic Bushwick church
John Jones was arrested on Wednesday in Manhattan and charged with arson. He is accused of setting the devastating June 19 fire at the South Bushwick Reformed Church, a New York City landmark built in the 1850's.
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A Brooklyn man has been charged with allegedly setting the blaze that destroyed a historic church in Bushwick, federal authorities say.
John Jones was arrested on Wednesday in Manhattan and charged with arson. He is accused of intentionally setting the devastating fire at the South Bushwick Reformed Church on June 19. The church is a New York City landmark built in the 1850s.
"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," stated FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore.
According to court documents, surveillance footage captured Jones trying to enter the church around noon on the day of the blaze. He was unable to get inside and went to a convenience store nearby where he purchased a lighter.
Prosecutors say Jones then returned to the church and wandered around its premises, at some point sparking the fire that eventually engulfed the church.
According to the FDNY, firefighters responded to 855 Bushwick Ave. just after 1:20 p.m.
The blaze quickly escalated to a third-alarm and sent large clouds of smoke billowing into the surrounding area. Citizen app footage captured flames leaping up the church's steeple, which eventually collapsed. One firefighter suffered minor injuries battling the flames.
Just under a month after the fire, the FDNY told News 12 that it was investigating the possibility that the blaze was set intentionally.
News 12 spoke to Rev. Dr. James E. Steward II, a senior pastor of South Bushwick Reformed Church, on multiple occasions.
On Tuesday, he emphasized the date of the blaze.
"This fire happened on Juneteenth," Steward said. "And so that's something that hit me right away. On Juneteenth, with an arson, that brings another level of trauma to this. We cannot overlook that."
Local leaders continue to support the recovery efforts while the church remains under a full vacate order.
If convicted, alleged arsonist Jones faces a minimum of five years behind bars and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
"This defendant placed countless Brooklyn residents at risk when he recklessly set fire to the South Bushwick Reformed Church in broad daylight," stated NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch. "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."
