Suspected Serial Arsonist Returns to St. Joseph’s Church
by Larry Janezich
Posted June 12, 2025
A video image of a suspect in Walter Alley behind St. Joseph’s Church. Video image from a St. Joseph Church neighbor’s security camera.
Image of construction materials blazing early on Wednesday morning. Video image from a St. Joseph Church neighbor’s security camera.
Early Wednesday morning, a suspected serial arsonist who has been setting fires on Capitol Hill since March struck the area near St. Joseph’s Church on 3rd and D Streets, NE, a second time.
ANC6C Chair Karen Wirt announced at the Wednesday night meeting of ANC6C that a pile of construction material belonging to Hillsdale College was set on fire in Walter Alley behind the church. According to an NBC4 news report, the fire was one of four set overnight by a person who police suspect has been behind a series of some 35 fires set on Capitol Hill this spring.
MPD is seeking a person of interest who was arrested in May after FMES observed him lighting a trash can fire near Barney Circle. That person, as reported by NBC News4 in a related television news report Wednesday night, is 50-year-old Mohammad Al-Rashidi, who investigators believe is experiencing homelessness. The photo below is from a mug shot taken after his arrest in May.
An arrest warrant has been issued for Mohammad Al-Rashidi.
According to NBC 4, charges were dropped in May after prosecutors determined they did not have enough evidence to pursue the case. According to Wirt, a church parishioner saw the man on Wednesday around 11am sitting on a wall at the side of the church who also said that a warrant has been issued for his arrest.
Wirt says, “Police ask if we see this (person) to not approach him but call 911 and keep an eye on where he is or what direction he goes so police can find him.”
Most of the fires have caused minor damage, but in May, a suspicious fire destroyed the car of St. Joseph’s pastor, the Rev. William H. Gurnee, which was parked in the garage behind the church. The church is at 2nd and C Street, NE, catty corner from the Senate Hart Office Building. Fire officials fear that one of the blazes could spread to a residence and result in loss of life or property.
FEMS encourages the public to reach out using 202-673-27766 (ARSON) (not a typo) or submit information online https://fmhotline.femsdc.com/HotlineForm Tips can be anonymous.
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