CHRISTIANSTED — Homeless men were burned out of their makeshift residences when a roommate threatened to kill them and then began lighting fires outside their doors at old Paradise Gym in Golden Rock late Wednesday night.
Luis M. “Bebo” Felix-Santos, 26, was arrested at 11:27 p.m. Wednesday and charged with attempted murder, first-degree arson and destruction of property, the Virgin Islands Police Department said.
The 911 Emergency Call Center received calls concerning Luis M. Felix-Santos aka “Bebo” damaging items inside the old Paradise Gym about 10:14 p.m. Wednesday, according to the VIPD.
The victim called a third time to request the Fire Department because “Bebo” was setting the building on fire. Units from the Ancilmo Marshall Command were dispatched to the location, police said.
Upon the detectives’ arrival, they made contact with two victims who reported that at about 10:00 p.m., while inside their living quarters inside the old Paradise Gym, Luis Santos came shouting and banging on their room doors, according to police.
“Shortly after that, Mr. Santos went to the northern side of their rooms, lit two large fires, and shouted, ‘I gon kill ah yo mudascunt, at that time the two victims could not breathe while inside their rooms. Mr. Santos then started another larger fire in front of their rooms,'” VIPD Communications Director Glen Dratte said.
The two victims were able to escape through a rear opening inside their rooms, according to Dratte. Shortly thereafter, the Ancilmo D. Marshall Command units arrived and observed Santos standing in front of the building.
The suspect informed the officer that he was trying to cook something, but Santos was detained, and the victims were able to identify Santos as the individual who set the abandoned building on fire, the police spokesman said.
Firefighters with the Virgin Islands Fire Service were present and extinguished the fire, the VIPD said.
Felix-Santos, age 26, was arrested at the arson scene and read his Miranda Rights. After hearing his rights, he declined to give a statement.
Bail for Felix-Santos was set at $100,000.00. Unable to post bail, he was then booked and remanded to the John Bell Adult Correctional Facility pending an advice-of-rights hearing scheduled for tomorrow in Superior Court.
[wpedon id=23995]You might also like:
