Mississippi Church Targeted In Arson Attack After Defying Stay-At-Home Order

A church in Mississippi that burned down in what authorities say was an arson attack had previously defied the city's stay-at-home order and was suing officials over lockdown measures.

The First Pentecostal Church of Holly Springs on Highway 178 was destroyed in a fire in the early hours on Wednesday, WMC reported.

According to the station, investigators found evidence that the fire was intentionally set, including graffiti in the church parking lot that said "Bet you stay home now you hypokrits (sic)."

Jerry Waldrop, who has been the church's pastor for more than 30 years, told the WMC that the church has "no enemies that we know of."