I Investigators from the Los Angeles City Fire Department Arson/Counter-Terrorism division announced an arrest in connection with an arson fire that destroyed Victory Baptist Church and injured
three firefighters.
Carlos Diaz, a 23-year-old unhoused male, is initially being charged with Penal Code 451C – arson of a structure – with additional charges pending as a result of the fire which caused significant damage to
Victory Baptist Church–one of the historic Baptist strongholds in South Los Angeles–was smoldering ashes after a major fire destroyed the church early Sunday morning, injuring two L.A. firefighters.
The blaze which broke out at around 2:22am was declared a “knockdown” after an hour and forty minutes of firefighters working to contain the flames which had engulfed the massive sanctuary located at the corner of McKinley Avenue and East 48th Street. Crews remained on scene for most of Sunday to ensure hot spots and smoldering debris within the collapsed building were eliminated as church members gathered at the scene.
“The building may be in ruins, but we will rebuild,” said Rev. Edward Jenkins, who has served as the church’s pastor since 1995. “Victory has been instrumental in this community and will continue to be.”
Victory–whose motto is “To Serve the Present Age”–was organized and founded by Arthur Atlas Peters on Easter Sunday, April 2, 1943 in a storefront on 42nd street and Wadsworth Avenue with 14 members.
In 1950, Victory Baptist Church made national news and inspired thousands when its Sunday night services were aired on KTTV during prime time. It also broke new ground as the state’s first Black-owned day and nursery school.
During its glory days in the sixties, the church grew to more than 2,000 members and was best known for its 75-voice choir, “The Voices of Victory”, and its activism. Dr. Martin Luther King spoke there on two occasions and Rev. Ralph D. Abernathy officiated Peters’ funeral there in 1975.
While the fire was deemed a total loss, what stood untouched by the flames were records and pictures documenting the church’s rich 79-year history and the podium Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rev. Ralph D. Abernathy preached from.
Supervisor Holly Mitchell, Congresswoman Karen Bass and Councilman Curren Price were among the elected officials offering their support to Jenkins on Sunday while members in the Baptist community are also rallying behind the church. Many churches including Mount Zion Baptist Church, Macedonia Baptist Church and Weller Street Baptist Church took up offerings.
A larger benefit service is in the works.
“This is a huge blow to the faith community,” said Pastor K.W. Tulloss, president of the Baptist Minister’s Fellowship. “Victory is a huge part of our Baptist tradition here in Los Angeles, so the faith community is coming together to raise monies to help support the church through this tragedy and ensure that Victory’s rich legacy continues.”