CHULA VISTA, CA - Authorities have made an arrest in connection with a fire that critically injured two 7-Eleven employees on Saturday, August 24th. The suspect has been identified as 47-year-old Jose Carlos Villanueva and was arrested within hours of setting the fire.
According to 10News, Villanueva was found at a gas station in Redlands, California, shortly after the fire. The fire, which happened around 8:00 a.m., engulfed a 7-Eleven at 899 Broadway. Firefighters and law enforcement officers responding and found black smoke pouring from the building. One woman was found engulfed in flames, struggling to escape. Police officers ran into the smoke-filled store and rescued a second woman who had been knocked unconscious.
Anthony Molina, with the Chula Vista Police Department (CVPD) said in a statement, "She was already walking herself out. She had some serious burns at the time ... the officers went into the smoke and one of them was able to find her and pull her out." Both employees were taken to a local hospital to be treated for their injuries. As of this writing, one woman remains in critical condition with life-threatening burns, while the other woman's injuries are serious but non-life-threatening.
Initial investigations indicate that the fire was intentionally set and police have identified Villanueva as the main suspect. They stated that he used a flammable liquid to start the fire before fleeing the scene in a dark BMW sedan. Villanueva, who was described as a Hispanic male wearing a green sweater with possible burn marks, was arrested without incident on Saturday afternoon. He was transported back to Chula Vista.
Though his connection to the store and the victims is still under investigation, officials believe that Villanueva is known to at least one of the victims and that this was not a random act of violence. The fire caused significant damage to the store and nearby businesses have been temporarily closed. According to FOX 5, the three CVPD officers that ran into the burning building were checked at the scene for smoke inhalation and have all been cleared. However, the police department said they will continue to monitor them in the coming days.
George Jones, a 7-Eleven customer said that he buys lottery tickets frequently and is familiar with the staff. He said, "Sad that these things are happening. I felt really bad. I called a couple of my friends and I called one of our former friends that knew here as well and they were shocked to hear this type of news." Anyone with any information is encouraged to contact San Diego County Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477 or submit tips anonymously online or through the P3tips mobile app.
In a separate incident in Queens, New York, an e-bike shop in Richmond Hill went up in flames on Thursday, August 22nd, forcing people who live above the shop out of their homes in the middle of the night. According to ABC7, the fire broke out in a garage area where the e-bikes were stored. More than two dozen electric and gas-powered bikes were pulled out of the store.
One firefighter was taken to the hospital with a minor injury from responding to the fire. One resident said that this was not the first time this store set on fire adding, "It was the second time that this garage caught on fire. The first time it was a few months ago. The first was definitely worse, but this one isn't good either." In a statement Deputy Fire Chief George Healy said, "The messaging has to be out there that we shouldn't be charging these during sleeping hours. We shouldn't have them by the doors that are exits from our multiple dwellings."
After the inspection of the fire, inspectors noticed another problem. The building's cellar had been illegally converted into two apartments so they issued violations for illegal construction and conversion work.
According to 10News, Villanueva was found at a gas station in Redlands, California, shortly after the fire. The fire, which happened around 8:00 a.m., engulfed a 7-Eleven at 899 Broadway. Firefighters and law enforcement officers responding and found black smoke pouring from the building. One woman was found engulfed in flames, struggling to escape. Police officers ran into the smoke-filled store and rescued a second woman who had been knocked unconscious.
Anthony Molina, with the Chula Vista Police Department (CVPD) said in a statement, "She was already walking herself out. She had some serious burns at the time ... the officers went into the smoke and one of them was able to find her and pull her out." Both employees were taken to a local hospital to be treated for their injuries. As of this writing, one woman remains in critical condition with life-threatening burns, while the other woman's injuries are serious but non-life-threatening.
Initial investigations indicate that the fire was intentionally set and police have identified Villanueva as the main suspect. They stated that he used a flammable liquid to start the fire before fleeing the scene in a dark BMW sedan. Villanueva, who was described as a Hispanic male wearing a green sweater with possible burn marks, was arrested without incident on Saturday afternoon. He was transported back to Chula Vista.
Though his connection to the store and the victims is still under investigation, officials believe that Villanueva is known to at least one of the victims and that this was not a random act of violence. The fire caused significant damage to the store and nearby businesses have been temporarily closed. According to FOX 5, the three CVPD officers that ran into the burning building were checked at the scene for smoke inhalation and have all been cleared. However, the police department said they will continue to monitor them in the coming days.
George Jones, a 7-Eleven customer said that he buys lottery tickets frequently and is familiar with the staff. He said, "Sad that these things are happening. I felt really bad. I called a couple of my friends and I called one of our former friends that knew here as well and they were shocked to hear this type of news." Anyone with any information is encouraged to contact San Diego County Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477 or submit tips anonymously online or through the P3tips mobile app.
In a separate incident in Queens, New York, an e-bike shop in Richmond Hill went up in flames on Thursday, August 22nd, forcing people who live above the shop out of their homes in the middle of the night. According to ABC7, the fire broke out in a garage area where the e-bikes were stored. More than two dozen electric and gas-powered bikes were pulled out of the store.
One firefighter was taken to the hospital with a minor injury from responding to the fire. One resident said that this was not the first time this store set on fire adding, "It was the second time that this garage caught on fire. The first time it was a few months ago. The first was definitely worse, but this one isn't good either." In a statement Deputy Fire Chief George Healy said, "The messaging has to be out there that we shouldn't be charging these during sleeping hours. We shouldn't have them by the doors that are exits from our multiple dwellings."
After the inspection of the fire, inspectors noticed another problem. The building's cellar had been illegally converted into two apartments so they issued violations for illegal construction and conversion work.
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