Search Continues For Suspect In Staten Island Gas Station Fire
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The search continues for a suspect who police say started a fire at a gas station on Staten Island.
It happened early Monday morning at a gas station on Richmond Avenue.
In surveillance video of the incident, police said the man is seen spraying gas around the pumps and then tossing a lit piece of paper to the ground.
Police say the man bought $40 of gas from an employee moments before, who told CBS2 off camera that he sensed something was off. He says he tried to take the can away from the suspect and even attempted to shut off the pumps, but it was too late, CBS2's Reena Roy reported.
"They never seen him before," said Giovanni Viscello, a friend of the gas station manager. "It was just like a random thing."
Investigators believe the suspect and employee got into an argument about the purchase.
The burst of flame triggered the station's fire suppression system. Police said a man nearby was seriously hurt after inhaling fumes and burning his feet.
"That's crazy," said resident Frank Masella. "That's insane. People just don't use their heads."
The clerk said the suspect's shoes also caught on fire, but he was able to kick them off and drive away in his blue minivan.
"That's probably the worst thing I've ever heard," said Amanda DeAngelis, whose husband owns a gas station nearby. She's says she'll now be warning him to be extra cautious. "I'm gonna call him now and just tell him to beware."
Police said the suspect was wearing a light-colored, long-sleeved shirt, dark-colored shorts and dark-colored slippers.
Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782), visit www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or text tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
