In Florida, a teen is accused of plotting to kill his friend and ignite a fire at his home with the family inside, according to reports from authorities.
Emergency services responded to a blaze at a Lehigh Acres residence around 6 a.m. on January 3. At the scene, they discovered an open 5-gallon propane tank near the entrance and a homemade Molotov cocktail, as stated by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.
Fortunately, the four individuals in the house managed to escape through a window and were unharmed.
Witnesses mentioned that the suspect, who is 14, was seen near the area, briefly engaging with the victims before fleeing. He was later apprehended at his home, where he confessed to using a propane tank and a bottle of gasoline to ignite the fire.
Authorities disclosed that the teen admitted he started the fire with the intent to kill. Sheriff Carmine Marceno remarked that the intended target was his teenage friend.
Namilly Enrique Álvarez, the mother of the boy who was targeted, expressed her distress, saying, “It was a very traumatic moment. Even now, two days later, I can’t sleep either. I can’t sleep because I’m reliving everything that happened and I’m afraid it will happen again.”
She described how her family had to escape through a window, as the flames made the front door inaccessible.
Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident. However, the motive behind the attempted murder charges remains unclear.
The 14-year-old now faces serious charges, including attempted murder, arson, burglary, manufacturing a destructive device, and possession or use of a weapon.
Sheriff Marceno commented, “This is a young boy who committed an extremely horrific act, attempting to kill four people in a residence. I am saddened that things turned out the way they did, but I am very grateful that no one was hurt as a result and the suspect was able to get off the street and be charged.”
