A federal jury has convicted a man for his role in a 2020 arson attack on Target's corporate headquarters amid rioting over a false rumor that a Black man had been killed by police in Minneapolis.
LeÂroy L.P. Williams, 36, of Minneapolis was found guilty of arson in connection with the blaze at the retailer's downtown main offices on Aug. 26, 2020. A sentencing date is not yet scheduled.
Williamspleaded guilty in January 2021, but later asked withdraw his plea and stand trial. Judge Patrick Schiltz granted his request last March.
ArÂson and lootÂing eruptÂed on the evening of Aug. 26, 2020, when Eddie Frank Sole Jr., 38, faÂtalÂly shot himÂself on Nicollet Mall shortÂly afÂter he was susÂpected of shooting and killing another man. Sole's suÂiÂcide sparked a false ruÂmor that poÂlice had killed him.
Prosecutors said Williams and co-defendants Victor D. Edwards, 34, of St. Pauland Shador T.C. Jackson, 27, of Richfield went to the Target headÂquarÂters, where dozÂens of othÂers had gathÂered and startÂed riotÂing.
Jackson was accused of using a conÂstrucÂtion sign to break through a glass door of the buildÂing. The three then went inÂside, where Jackson set fire to a mailroom counter and Edwards fueled the blaze with a liÂquid acÂcelÂerÂant, according to the charges.
Authorities said Edwards, Jackson and Williams, along with othÂers, fled the building, but Williams reÂturned and tried to start a fire inÂside its enÂtrance.
That same night, Edwards and Jackson stole designer purses and other items from Saks Off Fifth on Nicollet Mall, and Edwards texted acquaintances telling them about the purses. When one of the acquaintances asked why he was downtown, Edwards replied, "Lootin."
Jackson pleaded guilty to arson and was sentenced to nearly three years in prison. Edwards was convicted of arson and rioting, and given more than eight years.
All three deÂfendÂants have felÂoÂny reÂcords in Minnesota. Williams has been conÂvicted seven times for theft, twice for ilÂlegal posÂsesÂsion of a fireÂarm in public and once each for burÂglaÂry and reÂceivÂing stoÂlen propÂerÂty. Jackson has conÂvicÂtions for seÂcond-deÂgree asÂsault and drug posÂsesÂsion. Edwards was conÂvicted in 2016 in Hennepin County for third-deÂgree crimÂiÂnal sexÂual conÂduct. He's also been conÂvicted of theft, drug posÂsesÂsion and child enÂdanÂgerÂment.