Protestor charged in arson attack against historic Nashville courthouse

An arson charge has been filed in the aftermath of Nashville’s historic courthouse fire, in addition to those previously charged. Shelby Ligons, a 22-year-old Nashville, Tenn., local, has been charged with malicious destruction of property using fire or explosives.

Wesley Somers, 25, Hendersonville, Tenn. was charged in connection with the courthouse arson on June 3. His case is currently pending in the US District Court.

The criminal complaint alleges that after crowds gathered in Downtown Nashville for BLM related protests on the afternoon of May 30, a number of protestors, including Ligons, gathered in front of the Nashville City Hall, which is also the Metro Courthouse.

In the dark of night, the protestors are alleged to have destroyed property using crowbars, rocks and other objects. Windows were shattered and the walls of the courthouse were defaced. The charge also states that one or more fires were lit inside the building.

Ligons was seen in videos from that night wearing blue jeans, a black shirt, a medical mask and white scarf over her hair. Social media clips that surfaced online and in many news sites show Ligons carrying a white poster marked with the words "We Will Not Be Silent" and  "F*** the Police."

Ligons was caught on camera lighting the poster on fire and dropping it in a window situated on the facade of City Hall.

If found guilty, Ligons could receive a minimum of five years and up to 20 years in prison. The FBI arrested Ligons yesterday morning, she made an initial appearance in front of a US Magistrate Judge yesterday.