Overview
- Police say the fire, on July 10, struck a vacant former antique shop on South Main Street and caused roughly $150,000 in damage.
- Fire investigators reported burn patterns they say indicate the blaze began on the building’s Israeli flag, which had been displayed there alongside an American flag for about three years.
- The FBI is assisting the Zionsville Police Department as officials work to establish motive and consider whether the case meets the standard for a federal hate crime.
- Hundreds from the central Indiana Jewish community and local supporters held a rally on Main Street over the weekend to replace flags at the site and condemn the suspected arson.
- Local leaders and national figures including Mike Pence and Sen. Jim Banks publicly denounced the attack, and investigators urged anyone with information to contact law enforcement as the probe continues with no arrests reported.