A Minnesota man has been sentenced to ten years in prison over his involvement in an arson at the Target corporate headquarters in downtown Minneapolis during a Black Lives Matter riot.
Leroy Lemonte Perry Williams, 37, and his co-defendants broke into the building and began setting it on fire from both the inside and outside.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Minnesota said in a press release, "On Wednesday, August 26, 2020, Minneapolis experienced arson, rioting, and looting following the suicide of a suspect in a homicide, and in response to false rumors surrounding the man’s death."
"Leroy Lemonte Perry Williams, 37, and his co-defendants went to the Target Corporation’s corporate headquarters building ('Target Corporation building') in downtown Minneapolis where dozens of other people had gathered," the press release continued. "Williams and others broke into the Target Corporation building and repeatedly attempted to set fire both inside and outside the building."
Alpha News reports, "Surveillance images showed Williams joining the crowds rioting in downtown Minneapolis that night, first outside the Target store on Nicollet Mall, then looting a Speedway gas station a few blocks away and finally at the Target Corporation headquarters building in downtown Minneapolis." People are INCORRECTLY live streaming saying this was OIS. There is also a protest that was already forming #MplsDowntown. Police sound VERY concerned about this false information being live streamed.
— CrimeWatchMpls (@CrimeWatchMpls) August 26, 2020
"Court documents say that Williams repeatedly attempted to light cardboard on fire using a lighter inside the building. Williams was interrupted in his attempts by an unidentified male who confronted Williams. Williams responded aggressively by shoving him, before ultimately leaving the Target headquarters."
The report added that Williams’ co-defendants, Victor Devon Edwards, and Shador Tommie Cortez Jackson, had previously been sentenced to 100 months and 33 months in prison.
Williams was convicted on one count of arson in October.
On January 31, Williams was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Paul A. Magnuson to 120 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
