Two Individuals Charged with Arson Inside a Local Business

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal grand jury has indicted two individuals for starting a fire inside a business, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.

A two-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges Lillian Jayne Colburn, 26, and Mercutio Terrell Southall, 41, both of Birmingham, Alabama, with arson and conspiring to provide material support to terrorists in connection with the arson. The arson occurred at the Walmart Supercenter located on Lakeshore Parkway in Homewood, Alabama on August 25, 2025.

The FBI investigated the case along with the Homewood Police Department and the Irondale Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney W. Lee Gilmer is prosecuting the case.

An indictment contains only charges. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty