The three people indicted for setting fire to the Wendy’s restaurant on University Avenue in southwest Atlanta, Natalie Hanna White, John Wesley Wade, and Chisom Kingston will appear in a Fulton County Court this morning to learn their fates. The three were accused and arrested of setting fire to the Wendy’s where police shot and killed Rayshard Brooks in the summer of 2020. Brooks’ death sparked protests, some violent, that ended up with the fast-food restaurant being burned to the ground.
A grand jury handed down those indictments in January of this year.
Nearly two full days after the shooting death of Rayshard Brooks, a large group of protesters had gathered around the Wendy’s located along University Avenue, just off the Downtown Connector. Shortly after 9:30 p.m., on June 13, just two days after the killing, flames could be seen shooting out of the closed restaurant.
Atlanta Fire Department officials said that the fire at the southwest Atlanta Wendy’s started in multiple locations using multiple incendiary methods and devices. Officials estimated that there were at least 10 attempts to set the building on fire.
Natalie White, 29, was arrested by Fulton County Sheriff’s deputies on the day of Rayshard Brooks funeral.
Less than an hour after his funeral ended, the woman suspected of torching Wendy’s restaurant where Rayshard Brooks died was apprehended by the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office.
The sheriff’s office tweeted that Natalie White, 29, was arrested Tuesday afternoon. White, who authorities believe is one of several people who set fire to Wendy’s on University Avenue, was charged with first-degree arson.
White’s attorney Drew Findling told WSB-TV that she’s not responsible for the fire. Findling surrendered White to the authorities after having discussed the matter with the Fulton County District Attorney’s office since the weekend. Findling also told WSB-TV’s Mark Winne that White was a close friend of Brooks and had no previous criminal record.
The Wendy’s restaurant was destroyed on June 13, the day after Brooks was killed by an Atlanta Police officer.
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