BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — A man has been arrested and charged with setting a fire inside the Walmart Supercenter on Lakeshore Parkway in Homewood last month.
Mercutio Southall, 40, was arrested Sunday and charged with first-degree arson, first-degree criminal mischief and possession of a controlled substance. Southall's arrest stems from a fire that took place at the Homewood Walmart on Aug. 22. At the time, Sgt. Mark Trippe said the fire started from a burning shopping cart being pushed into the store while customers were inside. The fire was large enough that it set off the alarm and caused the building to be evacuated. No one was hurt in the fire.
According to Trippe, Southall allegedly set the fire after being involved in a protest in downtown Homewood over the death of Jabari People