Memphis man charged with trying to blow up hospital
MEMPHIS, Tenn. Feb 23, 2022— A Memphis man was arrested Sunday after police say he attempted to set a hospital on fire in Whitehaven, putting nearly sixty people in danger.
Memphis Fire Department responded to a fire at Methodist South in Whitehaven around 3 p.m. on Sunday evening.
An investigation began after MFD declared the cause fire as intentional.
Witnesses told investigators that Devonta Willis got upset inside the emergency department of the hospital and used a lighter to set a mattress on fire.
After the room was engulfed in flames, police said Willis opened the valves on the oxygen tanks with the intention of blowing up the entire hospital.
Staff and patients evacuated the hospital before the fire got out of control. Officers had to assist with rolling hospital beds out of the building.
When officers tried to detain Willis, they say he was combative and tried to set them on fire. Reports did not say why Willis wanted to burn the hospital down or why he was there.
Methodist South said in a statement:
A fire took place yesterday in an area of the Emergency Department at Methodist South Hospital. No one was harmed in this incident due to the immediate action of our Associates and their unwavering attention to patient safety. In addition, we appreciate the collaborative and quick response from MPD and MFD to control the fire and ensure safe evacuations of the affected area. The Emergency Department is open and available to take care of patients in need of services.
Willis was charged with 59 counts of aggravated arson, vandalism and resisting official detention.
