x
Breaking News
More () »

St. Pete police arrest teen accused of lightning Uhuru House flag on fire

Officers say he used a flamethrower to burn the flag at the Uhuru House on Saturday.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Police arrested a teen accused of using a flamethrower to burn a flag at the Uhuru House over the weekend.

St. Petersburg police say after working with state and federal partners, detectives were able to identify, locate and arrest 19-year-old Kenny Raymond. 

The teen used a flamethrower to set a Pan-African flag on fire Saturday morning at the Uhuru House, according to law enforcement. No damage to anything else was reported, and no one was hurt.

Raymond is charged with criminal mischief. The St. Petersburg Police Department said it has also started the process for a risk protection order on the teen.

In a press conference Friday, the African Socialist Party USA said it would be conducting its own investigation, alleging in part that the person who did this could not have acted alone. They also labeled the attack as a "terrorist attack," noting that the accused perpetrator "being African is inconsequential" to the act of violence committed. 

The organization said it would be holding an open house meeting at 4 p.m. Sunday at the Uhuru House to discuss this matter further. And, as part of its independent investigation, is asking anyone with information to call 727-914-3619.

A video from the African Socialist Party USA's Facebook account shows a person, now believed to be Raymond, using a flamethrower to set fire to a Pan-African flag flying on a pole outside the headquarters of the Uhuru Movement.

We have in: video footage of the person setting fire to the Red, Black and Green flag at the Uhuru House in St. Petersburg, FL.

Posted by African People's Socialist Party USA on Saturday, July 2, 2022

Before You Leave, Check This Out