Homemade Bombs Blamed in Shop Fire
Homemade bombs apparently touched off a fire that damaged a shoe repair shop in Tarzana early Tuesday, Los Angeles police said.
No one was injured in the 1:45 a.m. blaze, which caused an estimated $3,000 damage to the shop located in a one-story row of businesses at 18301-09 Ventura Blvd., the Los Angeles Fire Department reported.
Joe Mezzio, owner of the building, estimated the damage at more than $10,000, noting that the explosives blew a hole through the roof of Joe’s Shoe Repair, one of his tenants.
About 20 people working in the property’s nine small businesses were evacuated for most of Tuesday after arson investigators discovered the fragments of three bombs, Detective Don Tabak said.
A motive for the apparent arson was still under investigation, Tabak said.
Mezzio said he could recall no problems at his property except for a few windows broken by vandals about six months ago.
Tabak said the shoe shop’s proprietor, who was out of town Tuesday, was described as a good tenant.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
