Jena fire not race-related, official says
The 2006 fire that badly damaged Jena High School had nothing to do with the racial tension that led to a civil rights demonstration, a law enforcement official said.
The fire was set by people who wanted to destroy bad-grade records, LaSalle Parish Sheriff-elect Scott Franklin said. Six males, including three juveniles, have been arrested and face aggravated arson counts. Two other suspects were being sought, he said.
“The arson fire at Jena High School had nothing to do with racial motivation, the ‘Jena Six’ or any of the other events surrounding the school last semester,” Franklin said. The fire destroyed several classrooms, offices and science labs.
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