John Jones Arrested for Burning Brooklyn's South Bushwick Church

John Jones, a 24‑year‑old Brooklyn resident, was arrested after police linked him to the June 19 arson that destroyed the historic South Bushwick Reformed Church, a landmark that had stood for more than 170 years. Surveillance video showed a man buying a lighter and setting the wooden structure ablaze, reducing the church to rubble while the parish hall survived. Jones was taken into custody after an off‑duty NYPD officer, working security at a Midtown CVS, stopped him for attempting to steal a sandwich, donuts and a soda. A warrant for the arson case was discovered during the arrest, leading to federal charges in the Eastern District of New York. Community leaders expressed grief and anger, and fundraising efforts have begun to rebuild the church.

The incident highlights the loss of a cultural and religious hub for the Bushwick neighborhood and underscores the coordination of local and federal law‑enforcement agencies in responding to the crime.