Opelousas, Louisiana (CNN) A suspect in arson fires at three historically black Louisiana churches is a law enforcement officer's son who may have been influenced by "black metal" music and its "associated history with church burnings," the state fire marshal said Thursday. John Bel Edwards, who called the fires a reminder of "a very dark past of intimidation and fear." Matthews is charged with three counts of simple arson on a religious building, State Fire Marshal H. "Butch" Browning said. The suspect has no history of violence or prior arrests, officials said. "We can now confirm all three of these fires are intentionally set, and all three of these fires are related," Browning said.

Source: CNN April 11, 2019 11:03 UTC