Suspect Seen on Video Tossing Molotov Cocktails at 2 Churches in NC Arrested

Terry Wayne Raeford, 57, of Fayetteville in a booking photo. Courtesy of (Cumberland County Sheriff's Office

Authorities in North Carolina have arrested a suspect who has been accused of hurling Molotov cocktails at two churches over Memorial Day weekend, police say.

Terry Wayne Raeford, a 57-year-old man of Fayetteville, was arrested on May 30 and charged with two counts of manufacture, assembly, possession, storage, transportation, sale, purchase, delivery, or acquisition of a weapon of mass death and destruction, and two counts of malicious damage to occupied property by use of explosive or incendiary, Ennis W. Wright, the sheriff of Cumberland County, said in a press release on Monday.

Arson investigators obtained video footage from security cameras at Grays Creek Church and New Calvary Missionary Baptist. The footage at both churches captured a 4-door grey car with tinted windows.

In one of the videos released by the sheriff’s office, a black male is seen exiting the vehicle and hurling a fiery explosive toward the buildings. A small fireball ignites on the grass by a sidewalk.

Surveillance footage allegedly shows Terry Wayne Raeford, 57, of Fayetteville, moments before throwing a Molotov cocktail at a church in North Carolina. Courtesy of Cumberland County Sheriff's Office

A still image from surveillance footage shows the vehicle of the Molotov cocktail throwing suspect. Courtesy of Cumberland County Sheriff's Office

Arson investigators later identified Raeford as the suspect seen in the videos allegedly tossing Molotov Cocktails toward both churches.

Police confirmed no injuries were reported in either incident.

The first incident happened at Grays Creek Church on May 29, according to the sheriff’s office. Police responded to a 911 call at 10:37 a.m. about someone throwing Molotov cocktails at the building.

Just 30 minutes later, police received another call about a suspect throwing a Molotov cocktail at New Calvary Missionary Baptist.

Raeford is being held at the Cumberland County Detention Center on a $200,000 secured bond, Wright said. His first court appearance is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

Wright said Raeford is fully cooperating with the investigation.

From NTD News