Leroy Lemonte Perry Williams, Arson, Minnesota 2020

ST. PAUL, MN – A Minneapolis man, Leroy Lemonte Perry Williams, 36, was convicted yesterday by a federal jury for his role in the attempted arson of Target Corporation’s headquarters during the unrest that gripped the city in August 2020. The conviction comes after a three-day trial presided over by Judge Paul A. Magnuson, and marks a significant development in the ongoing federal investigations into the widespread violence that followed false rumors circulating about an incident on Nicollet Mall.

The evidence presented at trial painted a clear picture of Williams’s actions on the night of August 26, 2020. Footage from surveillance cameras showed Williams actively participating in the escalating chaos, initially joining the crowds outside a Target store on Nicollet Mall before moving on to loot a Speedway Gas Station. The trail of destruction ultimately led him to the Target Corporation headquarters, where he attempted to ignite cardboard inside the building with a lighter.

Williams wasn’t successful in starting a full-blown fire, thanks to the intervention of an unidentified male who confronted him. Witnesses testified that Williams responded aggressively, shoving the man before abandoning his attempt to torch the building. While the attempt was thwarted, the jury clearly found Williams’s actions constituted the crime of arson, a federal offense given the interstate commerce implications of targeting a major corporation’s headquarters.

The case, spearheaded by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), wasn’t a solo effort. Investigators from the Minneapolis Fire Department, along with police departments from Minneapolis, Bloomington, and Richfield, collaborated to gather evidence and build a case against Williams. Even the Office of Criminal Investigations at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration contributed to the investigation, highlighting the broad scope of the response to the 2020 unrest.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chelsea A. Walcker and Nathan H. Nelson successfully prosecuted the case, presenting the evidence that ultimately led to Williams’s conviction on one count of arson. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date, where Williams will face the consequences of his actions. The length of the sentence remains to be determined, but federal arson convictions often carry significant penalties.

This conviction represents a small victory in the ongoing effort to hold accountable those who exploited the chaos of the 2020 riots. While the city continues to grapple with the long-term effects of the unrest, federal and local law enforcement agencies remain committed to pursuing justice for the businesses and individuals impacted by the violence. The investigation into other incidents stemming from the August 2020 unrest is ongoing.

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