Irvine Arson Suspect Is Son of Victim of Crime Spree
A Toyota Celica burned earlier this week during an arson spree on the UC Irvine campus belonged to the father of one of the teenage suspects arrested in connection with the crimes, authorities said Thursday.
UC Irvine police said they still don’t know why the teens arrested Tuesday, one 17 and the other 15, allegedly set six fires early that morning, including one that gutted a popular campus hangout and came dangerously close to campus housing.
The 17-year-old was arrested after police noticed that his name matched that of the owner of a 1984 Toyota Celica that was set afire near the campus about 5 a.m.
“It just didn’t happen to [the 17-year-old’s] father but other areas within the city and campus of UC Irvine,” said UC Irvine Police Capt. Al Brown. “That’s why it’s hard to figure out a motive.”
Brown said campus police knew the boy’s name because he had been questioned in other campus incidents but never charged.
Police said the pair stole a canister of gasoline that was used to set the blazes. No one was injured in the fires, which all took place within half a mile.
The teens are being held at Orange County Juvenile Hall and are expected to be charged with six felony counts of arson, one burglary count and a count of receiving stolen property.
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