New Mexico Man Allegedly Tried to Burn Down Preschool with Children, Staff Inside
The suspect is accused of using "an ignitable liquid" to start a fire at a preschool with 48 students and 14 staff members inside
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A New Mexico man has been charged for allegedly trying to burn down a California preschool with children and staff inside. Later that day, he allegedly attempted to set fire to a strip mall a mile away.
Jonathan A. Barajas Nava, 38, was charged with two counts of attempted destruction of property by means of fire, the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Central District of California said in a release on Wednesday, May 22.
An affidavit filed with a criminal complaint alleges that Nava poured "an ignitable liquid" at the entrance of Retreat Church and Yucaipa Christian Preschool in Yucaipa, Calif., on April 24. At the time, 48 preschool students and 14 staff members were inside of the building, however, no one was injured.
Shortly after, Nava is said to have headed to a local strip mall and allegedly poured "an ignitable liquid on the building’s gas meters" before allegedly "lighting the gas meters on fire."
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According to The Los Angeles Times, authorities said multiple people called police around 1 p.m. local time after seeing a man carrying a gas can approach the school entrance before allegedly lighting it on fire. Court documents state that one neighbor who saw the alleged incident intervened by running toward the school and stomped out the fire until firefighters got to the scene. They also removed a gas can and doormat that had caught on fire.
Neighbors believed the suspect was wearing a hoodie and drove a pickup truck that had a loud muffler.
About four hours later, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Office received calls about another fire, this time at a strip mall a mile away from the preschool. An optometry center's wall, which was close to a set of gas meters, was on fire. Responding officers smelled gasoline and saw burn marks near the wall and sidewalk. A black gas can near the gas meters was recovered by authorities.
Authorities confirmed the preschool and strip mall fire were both set with a gasoline-type liquid along with a lighter.
Related: Boy, 16, Charged with Third-Degree Arson After Firework Sets Off 28-Acre Fire: Police
Police received another call around 6 p.m. local time, about a pickup truck driver who was trapped on a chain-linked fence, trying to accelerate the engine. The driver jumped out of the truck and hopped the fence. However, they got back in the truck when an officer got to the scene.
Although the officer instructed the driver to get out of the vehicle, it seemed as if he didn't hear. When the officer walked toward the truck, it caught on fire and the driver screamed. The officer then opened the door and the driver fell out of the truck onto the ground, one of his legs engulfed in flames. He was later identified as Nava, and handcuffed. Nava was treated for his injuries and authorities discovered he was on probation after pleading guilty to setting an Albuquerque church on fire in July 2022.
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He could face between five and 40 years in federal prison if he's convicted for the California fires, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
His arraignment is scheduled for May 28.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department are investigating the case.
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