By Micheal Chukwuebuka, Reporting
A man was, on Thursday Feb. 15, 2024, arrested and charged with using gasoline to set several fires around the exterior of a predominantly Black church in North Providence early Sunday morning.
According to Zachary Cunha, U.S. Attorney for the District of Rhode Island, Kevin Colantonio, 34, of North Providence, was charged with maliciously destroying by means of fire or explosion a building or other real property.
The Rhode Island man set several fires around the exterior of the pentecostal Shiloh Gospel Temple early Feb. 11.
Shiloh Gospel Temple
Stonix News learnt that police and firefighters were sent to the church at 12:12 a.m. for reports of an individual trying to set fires.
According to officials, the building was vacant at the time, and the fires were quickly extinguished by members of the North Providence Police and Fire Department.
Although no injuries were reported, the fires, however, caused significant property damage.
Investigators revealed that most of the congregation, which has been established for about 35 years, is Black and African American.
As of the time of filing this report, the motive behind Colantonio’s action remained unclear, and according to investigators, the probe into the fires is continuing.
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