Woman Used Lysol, Lighter to Try Set Shoppers on Fire
A Boston woman is facing charges of allegedly assaulting people outside of a grocery store, and trying to light customers on fire.
Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced the charges against 42-year-old Syretta Copeland in a news release. According to investigators, Copeland was outside of the Roche Bros. grocery store in Boston's Downtown Crossing, using a can of Lysol and a lighter, doing her best to light people on fire.
Copeland was charged with three counts of assault with a deadly weapon, one count of resisting arrest, and a count of possessing an incendiary device, according to WFXT.
Hayden said in the news release that Copeland had exited a bathroom inside a store with the lighter and can of Lysol, and started trying to set customers on fire.
“One victim reported feeling the spray on her skin prior to the defendant attempting to light the spray,” Hayden said.
Once officers arrived at the store, staff members identified Copeland, who then ran from police into a nearby subway station where she was found, and arrested after a brief struggle.
"This woman is lucky she didn’t cause serious injuries to her victims or to herself by engaging in such dangerous behavior,” Hayden said. “I’m thankful that the staff members in the store were alert and provided information that led to this arrest.”
Read more at WFXT