Watch as arsonist pours accelerant at Beth Israel Congregation synagogue
An arsonist poured accelerant at Beth Israel Congregation synagogue early Saturday morning Jan. 10, 2026. Beth Israel is the largest synagogue located in Jackson is the largest in Mississippi.
Stephen Spencer Pittman, 19, has been federally indicted for intentionally setting fire to Beth Israel Congregation synagogue in North Jackson, according to court records.
The indictment made available on the U.S. District Court’s website shows Pittman, of Madison County, faces a federal arson charge as he allegedly, maliciously damaged or destroyed a building by means of fire/an explosive.
If convicted, Pittman faces five-to-20 years in federal prison, up to a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment.
Pittman is also being charged on the state level. According to Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens, Pittman faces a state charge of first-degree arson with a hate crime enhancement in connection to the incident.
Pittman allegedly set fire to Beth Israel around 3 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, before being arrested. The Jackson Fire Department responded and was able to contain and extinguish the fire. No congregants or firefighters were injured in the blaze, but the building was severely damaged.
According to an affidavit filed in U.S. Southern District Court of Mississippi, during an interview with representatives of the FBI, Jackson Fire Department and Hinds County Sheriff’s Office, Pittman “admitted to starting a fire inside the Beth Israel Congregation/ISJL building.”
According to investigators, Pittman allegedly referred to Beth Israel as the “synagogue of Satan” and confessed to lighting a fire inside the building due to the synagogue’s “Jewish ties.”
Pittman allegedly traveled from his residence in Madison County and stopped at Mac’s Gas on U.S. Highway 51 in Ridgeland to purchase the fuel used for the fire. He also took his license plate off at the gas station before heading to the synagogue.
While there, Pittman allegedly texted his father, with messages such as, “‘Hoodie is on,’ and, ‘And they have the best cameras.'”
The affidavit states Pittman’s father pleaded with his son to return home, but Pittman replied by saying he was “due for a homerun” and “I did my research.”
Once at the synagogue, Pittman allegedly used an axe to break a window out of the building, poured the gas inside the building and used a torch lighter to start the fire.
Security camera footage released later by the synagogue showed a masked and hooded person, now alleged to be Pittman, using a gas container to pour a liquid on the floor and a couch in the building’s lobby.
Hours after the fire, Pittman posted a Snapchat photo of himself in a hospital bed, holding up his hand with apparent burns.
Court documents filed Monday, Jan. 12, state Pittman suffered burns to his ankles, hands and face in Saturday’s fire. When Pittman appeared in federal court Monday afternoon via a video call from what appeared to be a hospital bed, both of his hands were visibly wrapped in bandages.
According to the affidavit, once Pittman was confronted by his father about what happened Saturday morning, Pittman confessed to the crime. Pittman also allegedly “laughed as he told his father what he did and said he finally got them.”
Pittman previously stated in court that he was a high school graduate and had three semesters of college. Pittman was a former student and baseball player at St. Joseph Catholic School in Madison and a baseball player at Coahoma Community College. Both schools have made statements condemning Pittman’s alleged actions.
Pam Dankins is the breaking news reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Have a tip? Email her at pdankins@gannett.com.