HOMEWOOD, Ala. ( WBRC ) - Birmingham activist Mercutio Southall, 40, is facing arson charges after being accused by Homewood Police of setting the fire inside the Walmart on Lakeshore Parkway that prompted an evacuation of the store.

Homewood Police say Southall attended the Black Lives Matter protest at the Homewood Soccer Park on Aug. 22 before leaving. Then they say video evidence shows him going inside the Walmart store and positioning a shopping cart filled with rags, blankets, charcoal bags, engine fuel and paint thinner in a clothing aisle and returning to the Soccer Park protest.

Police say when protestors left and went towards downtown, Southall returned to the Walmart store and video shows him “facilitate the ignition of the fire,” causing the evacuation.

Southall was arre

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