A 14-year-old Florida boy is accused of setting a Lehigh Acres home on fire with four people, including his friend, sleeping inside. The incident occurred around 6 a.m. on January 3, when authorities discovered an open 5-gallon propane tank and a homemade Molotov cocktail near the front door of the residence.
The four occupants of the home managed to escape through a window without injury. Witnesses reported seeing the suspect, who had parked down the street, briefly interact with the victims before fleeing the scene.
The teenager was apprehended at his own home, where he reportedly confessed to transporting the propane tank and using a gas-filled bottle to start the fire, with the stated intention of killing his teenage friend who was inside the home. The motive behind the alleged attempted murder remains unclear.
The teen faces charges including four counts of attempted felony murder, arson, occupied burglary, making a destructive device, and possession or use of a weapon. The mother of the targeted friend expressed the traumatic impact of the event, stating that her family relives the incident and fears it could happen again.