ARREST MADE IN ATTEMPTED MURDER BY FIREBOMBING
After a four-month investigation, investigators with the State Fire Marshal’s
Office, Bureau of Fire and Arson Investigations, arrested Shawn David Miller 26,
for his involvement in the apparent attempted murder in July of
seven people by firebombing at an occupied residence located at 811 Neuse Ave.
All of the occupants escaped uninjured.
The investigation found that Miller and several of his friends threw several
Molotov cocktails at the residence when they knew or should have known it would
be occupied by seven people, including a 10-month-old baby. Part of the crime
was captured by a video camera a neighbor had installed. The video showed
several firebombs being thrown at the front porch of the residence and a vehicle
parked in front of the residence being set on fire and pushed toward the house.
The people inside awoke to the commotion and escaped the burning residence. The
wood-framed house sustained irreparable fire damage and their vehicle was
totaled.
Miller is charged with seven counts of attempted murder, firebombing, and
first-degree arson. He was taken to the Orange County Jail where he is being
held without bond. More arrests in the case are pending.
The Bureau of Fire and Arson Investigations is the law enforcement branch of
Florida’s Division of State Fire Marshal, investigating possible criminal
activities related to fires and explosions. This bureau conducts approximately
7,000 investigations each year statewide involving major fires, explosions, and
arson-related incidents. The mission of the bureau is to effectively prevent,
discourage, investigate, and prosecute arson and arson related crimes for the
protection of Florida’s citizens and their property. The Bureau is responsible
for about 500 criminal arrests each year.
The skyline for November is the beautiful
city of Lakeland in Polk County.