Wesley Somers, Federal Arson Charges, Tennessee 2021

Arson at Nashville Metro Courthouse

A Hendersonville man has been convicted of federal arson charges in connection to the destruction of the Metro Courthouse in downtown Nashville. Wesley Somers, 26, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to the malicious destruction of property at the Metro Courthouse.

The incident occurred on the evening of May 30, 2020, during protests following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Protesters gathered in front of the Nashville City Hall, also known as the Metro Courthouse, and began smashing windows and spraying graffiti on the facade. One or more fires were set inside the Courthouse at this time.

Video clips and photographs of the destruction at the Courthouse were posted on social media websites, news outlets, and other Internet sites. Somers was identified by the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department – Specialized Investigation Division, after receiving numerous tips from citizens.

Somers will be sentenced on December 1, 2021, and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 20 years in prison. The case was investigated by the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, the FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Schrader and Trial Attorney Justin Sher of the Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case. The incident was a violent act of destruction that damaged the Nashville community.

The guilty plea marks a significant development in the case, and the prosecution is seeking to hold Somers accountable for his actions. The outcome of the case will be determined by the court’s decision at the sentencing hearing.

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