Watch as arsonist pours accelerator into Beth Israel Congregation synagogue
In the early morning hours of Saturday, January 10, 2026, an arsonist poured accelerant into the Beth Israel Congregation synagogue. Beth Israel is the largest synagogue in Jackson and the largest in Mississippi.
JACKSON, Mississippi – A suspect in an alleged arson attack at a historic synagogue told federal authorities that he started the fire because of “the building’s Jewish ties,” according to a federal affidavit filed on January 12.
The affidavit identifies the suspect in the fire at Congregation Beth Israel synagogue as Stephen Spencer Pittman, 19. The criminal complaint states that the suspect is charged with arson of property used for interstate commerce. A Jan. 12 news release from Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said further charges are possible pending the final outcome of the investigation.
In an interview with law enforcement on the day of the fire, Pittman referred to the synagogue as “Satan’s synagogue” and told his father that he “finally got it,” according to the affidavit.
The fire broke out at around 3 a.m. on January 10 at the historic synagogue. Security camera footage later released by the synagogue showed a masked and hooded person, identified as Pittman, using a gas canister to pour liquid onto the floor and couches in the building’s lobby.
The Jackson Fire Department responded and was able to extinguish and extinguish the fire. No injuries were reported. Reports said administrative offices and a library were charred in the fire, and several large scrolls of the Torah, the Jewish holy book, were destroyed or damaged.
USA TODAY reached out to the attorney listed as representing Pittman for comment on Jan. 12.
Father begs son to stop after being accused of arson
Authorities allege in an affidavit that Pittman had traveled from his home in Madison County, about 30 miles north of Jackson, and stopped at Mack’s Gas on Highway 51 in Ridgeland to purchase gas for the fire. The affidavit states he removed his license plate at a gas station before heading to the synagogue.
After arriving, Pittman allegedly texted his father (identified only by his initials in court records) a photo of the back of the Beth Israel Building. A message was left on his cell phone that read, “‘There’s a furnace in the back,'” the affidavit states. “By the way, my plates are off,” “I’m wearing a hoodie,” and “They have the best cameras.”
The father begged his son to come home, but Pittman said, “I was going to hit a home run, so I said, ‘I’ve done my research,'” according to the affidavit. Mr. Pittman played baseball in high school and junior college.
When Pittman arrived at the synagogue, he used an ax to break a window in the building, poured gas into the building and used a torch lighter to start a fire, according to the affidavit.
father alerts authorities
The affidavit states that Pittman’s father observed burns on his son’s ankles, hands and face late on Jan. 10. The father later confronted his son about what happened that morning, and Pittman allegedly confessed to the crime.
“Pittman laughed and told his father what he had done and that he had finally gotten it,” the affidavit states.
The father then contacted the FBI and said his son had confessed to setting the building on fire, according to the affidavit.
Pittman’s cell phone data and burn marks on Pittman’s body corroborated that information, the affidavit said. The FBI later recovered a burnt-out cell phone believed to belong to Pittman, as well as a hand torch that was found and handed over to authorities by a believer.
Pittman suffered non-life-threatening burns and self-admitted to the University of Mississippi Medical Center, where he was later taken into custody, Reeves’ statement said.
Who is Stephen Spencer Pittman?
Pittman was a former student and baseball player at St. Joseph Catholic School in Madison and a baseball player at Coahoma Community College.
The Catholic Diocese of Jackson confirmed that Pittman was present on the Clarion Ledger, part of the USA TODAY Network, and said Pittman’s actions were “senseless, reprehensible and totally inconsistent with the values taught by the Catholic Church and espoused in Catholic schools.”
Pittman announced his commitment to play baseball at Coahoma Community College in 2023. Coahoma College is a historically black public community college, but many of its baseball players are white. Pittman’s college baseball roster no longer has a bio page and a search results in a 404 error. Although he is not listed as having recorded any statistics, his Instagram page shows photos of him playing for the school.
Fire breaks out at historic synagogue
Beth Israel is Jackson’s oldest synagogue, dating back to before the Civil War. Nearly 60 years ago, in November 1967, the Ku Klux Klan bombed both the temple’s offices and former Rabbi Perry Nussbaum’s home. There were no fatalities in this incident.
“The state of Mississippi stands by the members of Congregation Beth Israel,” Reeves said in a news release. “This heinous act will never be tolerated, and the perpetrators must accept the gravity of their actions.”
