Louisiana deputy sheriff's son reportedly arrested in connection with fires that destroyed 3 black churches

Suspect apprehended in Louisiana fires
(Image credit: screenshot/YouTube/KATC)

A Landry Parish sheriff deputy's son has been arrested in connection with fires that gutted three black churches in the Louisiana parish over a span of 10 days, CBS News reports. The first fire destroyed St. Mary's Baptist Church in Port Barre on March 26, followed by a April 2 conflagration at Greater Union Baptist Church in Opelousas and an April 4 fire at Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church in Opelousas. All three historically black churches are a few miles apart, and each has been active in the community for more than 100 years, The Acadiana Advocate reports.

KATC-TV identified the person in custody as 21-year-old Holden Matthews.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.