Jakhi Lodgson-McCray, a 21-year-old Brooklyn resident with a history of arrests at pro-Palestinian protests, has been federally charged with arson for allegedly setting fire to 10 New York Police Department (NYPD) vehicles and a trailer.
Lodgson-McCray pleaded not guilty Monday in U.S. District Court to charges stemming from the June 12 incident at a private NYPD reserve vehicle lot in Brooklyn’s Bushwick neighborhood.
Newsweek reached out to the NYPD via email on Monday for comment.
Why It Matters
The incident resulted in an estimated $800,000 in vehicle replacement costs and represents one of the most significant acts of anti-police property destruction in New York City in recent years.
The federal charge underscores the government’s approach to prosecuting protest-related property crimes, particularly those targeting law enforcement infrastructure during a period of heightened tensions over various social and political issues.
What To Know
According to a criminal complaint unsealed Monday, surveillance footage captured McCray allegedly scaling a fence into the lot shortly before 1 a.m. When a police officer arrived approximately 30 minutes later, multiple vehicles were ablaze, and the suspect was seen fleeing through a hole in the fence.
Physical evidence reportedly links McCray to the scene, including a lighter and sunglasses containing his fingerprints found at the location, the criminal complaint says. Investigators also discovered fire starters that had been placed under undamaged vehicles, suggesting a systematic approach to the arson attempt.
McCray was described by his attorney as an “activist,” while Mayor Eric Adams suggested the suspect had connections to protests across multiple cities, including Los Angeles and New York, related to immigration enforcement policies under the Trump administration.
While McCray was ordered to be released on the federal arson charge, he remains in custody on a separate misdemeanor count in Manhattan, his attorney said according to the Associated Press.
What People Are Saying
Joseph Nocella Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said in a news release: “Setting police vehicles ablaze is not a form of protest — it is a federal crime.”
NYPD News on X: “Jakhi Lodgson-McCray set fire to NYPD vehicles on June 12 in Brooklyn and caused significant damage. His actions were a direct attack on the NYPD. Today, justice was served. Jakhi turned himself in and will be federally charged with arson by the Eastern District.”
Jessica S. Tisch, Police Commissioner of the City of New York, wrote on X: “Jakhi Lodgson-McCray, the individual responsible for setting fire to 11 NYPD vehicles on June 12, was taken into custody this morning. The NYPD, @ATFNewYork, and @FDNY identified Mr. Lodgson-McCray in mid-June through forensics and video evidence, and our @USMarshalsHQ Regional Fugitive Task Force was hot on his trail when he turned himself in to face federal arson charges, accompanied by his lawyer and his mother.”
She added: “To anyone who would think to harm our members or our property, I ask that you take a moment to reflect on the morning that Mr. Lodgson-McCray just had…”
AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File
What Happens Next
Lodgson-McCray’s case will proceed through the federal court system, where he faces potentially significant penalties if convicted.
Reporting from the Associated Press contributed to this article.