Official: 2006 Jena school fire was arson, not related to race
By DOUG SIMPSON
Associated Press writer
Published: Dec 28, 2007 – UPDATED: 3:30 p.m.
JENA (AP) — The 2006 fire that badly damaged the high school in this east-central Louisiana town was set by people intending to destroy grade records and had nothing to do with the racial tension that led to a civil rights demonstration here three months ago, a law enforcement official said Friday.
LaSalle Parish Sheriff-elect Scott Franklin said six males, including three juveniles, were arrested Thursday and faced aggravated arson counts. Another two men considered suspects remained at large, he said.
“These young men were simply trying to get rid of their bad grades and to shut the school down. They failed on both accounts,” Franklin told a news conference.
Franklin said all the suspects are from Jena, and four were Jena High School students at the time of the fire. Some are black and some are white, he said. (more…)
Unfortunately, this news does not matter to some at this point. The damage has already been done.
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