Tag Archives: arson

Man Charged In Attempt To Firebomb TX Dem Office

Austin’s NBC News affiliate reports: The Austin Fire Department Arson Investigators and the FBI announced an arrest in an incident involving a person who tried to vandalize and start a fire at the Travis County Democratic Party Headquarters earlier this week. On Friday, AFD identified the man as Ryan Faircloth, 30. An arrest warrant released on Friday for Faircloth said …

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Cultist Sentenced To One Year For Biden Display Arson

The Berkshire Eagle reports: Last month, a year in jail sounded like too much to Lonnie Durfee, the man who set fire last fall to a Dalton farm’s campaign endorsement, a crime covered around the world. On Thursday, he accepted it. Durfee, 50, pleaded guilty to one count of burning personal property during a Central Berkshire District Court hearing, accepting …

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Dem Activist Arrested In AZ Dem HQ Fire, Claims He’s Secretly Married To Ivanka, Will Be Her Vice President

Arizona Central reports: Phoenix police have arrested Matthew Egler, a Democratic activist who party officials say has had a long and troubled history with the Maricopa County Party over the years, for the fire that destroyed Arizona Democratic Party’s headquarters last week. After a nearly weeklong investigation, Phoenix police on Wednesday identified Egler, 29, of Peoria, in connection with the …

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Police: Fire At Arizona Dem Headquarters Was Arson

The Associated Press reports: A fire that destroyed the Arizona and Maricopa County Democratic Party headquarters was an act of arson, authorities said. Investigators were gathering surveillance video from nearby buildings after combing the wreckage and concluding the fire was human-caused, authorities said. Nobody was hurt. Police Sgt. Mercedes Fortune declined to reveal what evidence convinced investigators the blaze was …

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IOWA: Man Gets 16 Years In Rainbow Flag Arson

The Des Moines Register reports: An Ames man was sentenced Wednesday to about 16 years in prison after he set fire to a church LGBTQ flag in June. Adolfo Martinez, 30, of Ames, last month was found guilty of a hate crime — a class “D” felony — third-degree harassment and reckless use of fire. Police said he stole a …

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Hate Crime Verdict In Burning Of Church Rainbow Flag

The Ames Tribune reports: The Ames man accused of tearing down a pride banner from Ames United Church of Christ and setting it on fire was found guilty by a jury Wednesday morning. Adolfo Martinez, 30, was found guilty of a hate crime, third-degree harassment, reckless use of fire and habitual offender, Story County Attorney Jessica Reynolds said. The habitual …

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JAPAN: 33 Dead After Man Firebombs Anime Studio

The Associated Press report: A man screaming “You die!” burst into an animation production studio in Kyoto, Japan, and set it on fire Thursday, authorities said, leaving 33 people confirmed or presumed dead, shocking anime fans in and outside Japan. Most of the dead and the 36 injured were workers at Kyoto Animation, known for mega-hit stories featuring high school …

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LOUISIANA: Hate Crime Charges In Church Fires

The Associated Press reports: The white man suspected in the burnings of three African American churches in Louisiana will remain in jail, denied bond Monday by a judge, as state prosecutors added new charges declaring the arsons a hate crime. Twenty-one-year-old Holden Matthews, the son of a sheriff’s deputy, entered his not guilty plea via video conference from the St. …

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LOUISIANA: Man Arrested In Arson Of Black Churches

Lafayette, Louisiana’s ABC News affiliate reports: KATC has confirmed with multiple law enforcement sources that one person is in custody in the recent church fires in St. Landry Parish. Sources confirm the suspect in the church arsons is Holden Matthews, 21. He is the son of a St. Landry Parish Deputy. He was booked at around 5:30 this evening into …

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#QAnon-Linked Man Charged In DC “Pizzagate” Arson

The Washington Post reports: A 22-year-old man from California has been charged with setting fire last month to curtains at Comet Ping Pong pizza shop in the Chevy Chase neighborhood of Northwest Washington, according to federal law enforcement authorities. Ryan Jaselskis, also known as Ryan Rimas, is charged with maliciously damaging or destroying by means of fire. Magistrate Judge G. …

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Arson Fire At DC’s “Pizzagate” Restaurant, Suspect Caught On Camera Left Behind Diaper And Baby Food

NBC News Washington reports: A D.C. restaurant that was once at the center of an online conspiracy theory dubbed “pizzagate” was intentionally set on fire, fire officials say. Firefighters responded to a small fire at Comet Ping Pong on Connecticut Avenue NW about 9:20 p.m. Wednesday night, D.C. Fire and EMS said. They found that employees had put out the …

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California Wildfire Suspect Is #QAnon #Pizzagate Nut

The Huffington Post reports: A man arrested on Tuesday in connection with a devastating wildfire in Southern California is a conspiracy theorist who posted videos about satanic rituals and QAnon. “This place is going to burn,” Forrest Clark, 51, allegedly texted a volunteer fire chief two weeks before an inferno enveloped Orange County, burning nearly 20,000 acres and destroying 12 …

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ALABAMA: Landlords Fear Renting New Home To Roy Moore Accuser Whose Home Burned In Arson Fire

The Birmingham News reports: A nationwide GoFundMe drive has neared $150,000 in donations to help Roy Moore accuser Tina Johnson recover from her home’s destruction in a suspicious fire, but Johnson’s gratitude was mixed with continued troubles this weekend. “I just thank everyone all across America from the bottom of my heart,” Johnson said Saturday. “I just cannot give them …

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SEATTLE: Judge Doubles Requested Sentence, Arsonist Of Gay Nightclub Gets Ten Years In Federal Prison

From the Seattle Post-Intelligencer: The Seattle man who set fire to a popular Capitol Hill club during a New Year’s celebration was sentenced Thursday to 10 years in prison – twice as long as the term requested by prosecutors. Facing federal charges in the dangerous but non-injurious blaze, Musab Masmari admitted to starting a fire inside Neighbours Nightclub during the …

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SEATTLE: Arsonist Of Gay Nightclub May Only Get Five Years In Prison

The man who attempted to murder over 700 LGBT people by setting fire to a packed Seattle nightclub on New Year’s Eve is due to be sentenced today. Under the plea agreement Musab Masmari will serve the mandatory minimum of five years in prison, although the judge in the case could sentence the 31-year-old up to the maximum 20 years …

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TRAILER: Upstairs Inferno

If you are unfamiliar with the 1973 arson at New Orleans’ UpStairs Lounge, the Wikpedia entry on the crime is a good place to start. Below is the trailer for the coming documentary on the worst mass murder of LGBT people in US history. While you watch, think about how close we came to this in Seattle a few months …

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SEATTLE: No Hate Crime Or Terrorism Charges In Gay Nightclub Arson

From the Southern Poverty Law Center: The man who tried to kill a crowd of 750 people packed inside a popular Seattle gay bar by setting it afire on New Year’s Eve has pleaded guilty to a federal charge of arson. Despite some evidence that he was motivated by hatred of LGBT people, Musab Mohammad Masmari will not face federal …

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SEATTLE: Feds Take Over Gay Nightclub Arson Case, Terrorism Charges Possible

The federal government has taken over the case of Musab Masmari, who is accused of setting a fire in a Seattle gay nightclub as more than 700 patrons celebrated on New Year’s Eve. The change in jurisdiction means that terrorism or hate crime charges are more likely. A friend of Musab Musmari’s contacted the FBI in early January to say …

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REPORT: Accused Seattle Gay Nightclub Arsonist Was “Provoked” By Gay-Baiting

The Seattle man awaiting trial for the New Year’s Eve arson of a crowded gay nightclub may have been provoked by an email which taunted him to have gay sex. Police say the email strengthens the likelihood of hate crime charges. Via local television: KIRO 7 has uncovered new evidence against Musab Masmari, who told a friend about his “distaste …

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Child Molester Charged With Ten Counts Of Attempted Murder After Setting Fire To Home Because Lesbians Don’t Deserve To Have Children

Miami police have arrested a 74 year-old registered sex offender and charged him with ten counts of attempted murder for trying to burn down the home of a lesbian couple and their eight children. The suspect told police that he is repulsed by the couple and that they don’t deserve to have children. 73-year-old Braulio Valenzuela intended to burn down …

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