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 Corona, California
Homeless Man and Woman Set On Fire in Their Sleep
February 9: A homeless man and woman were sleeping behind Corona Rancho Market, when the man awoke smelling gasoline and realized the woman was on fire. She suffered second-degree burns on over 30% of her body, including her head, legs and hands, while the man suffered burns on his hands and arms from trying to put the fire out.
Police say something like a Molotov cocktail, usually a glass bottle filled with gasoline and then lit, might have started the fire. The victims’ names have not been released due to the ongoing investigation. Ron Stewart of the Riverside Homeless Programs responded to The Press-Enterprise saying, “Such abuse should be treated as a hate crime and is a growing national trend.” He continues, “It’s deplorable and tragic that this could happen in our community …Prevention can start with increased awareness of homeless needs ... to get them off the streets and keep safe.”
Los Angeles, California
Inspired by “Bumfights”: Four Teens Have Been Terrorizing Homeless People and Recording Video Footage on Their Cell Phones to Post as Videos on the Internet
July 3: Four teenage boys, ages 15 to 17, have been arrested for the attacks of at least eight homeless people. The attacks occurred between July 3 and July 15. On July 3, the teens used an air pistol to fire plastic pellets at a homeless man covering his head with a blanket. On July 4, the boys threw a homeless man’s bicycle into his tent. On July 15, the teenagers threw smoke bombs at four homeless people, causing one man’s blanket to catch fire. Police made the arrest after they saw the teens recording the homeless man whose blanket caught fire. The cell phones were taken as evidence and revealed videos of other attacks. According to Lt. Paul Vernon, the teens said they were influenced by the “Bumfights” movies and planned to post the videos online. They also believe the boys may have been involved with as many as seven incidents. The perpetrators, whose names will not be released because they are minors, are being held without bail at a county juvenile hall and may face charges of arson and assault with a deadly weapon.
Highland Park, Michigan
Homeless Victim of Burn Sues Assailant
July 12: Bill Zimmer, a 50-year-old homeless man who has been staying in an abandoned house in Detroit, is suing KFC Manager Kimberly Mallory in excess of $25,000 for allegedly scalding him with water. Zimmer has also included parent company Yum! Brands Inc. of Louisville, Kentucky, and Kazi Foods of Michigan as co-defendants in the lawsuit.
Zimmer reported that he was panhandling outside the restaurant door when Mallory tossed a pail of boiling water on him. He spent 13 days in the burn unit of a Detroit hospital as a result of the severity of his injuries.
Mallory still works for the restaurant but could not be reached for comment.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Four Attacks Including a Panhandler Whose Coat and Possessions Were Set on Fire
Early-November: According to Sarah Erdo, program manager from Project HOME’s outreach center, there have been reports of four attacks on homeless people in the month of November. One victim, “Ponytail,” from South Philadelphia had her coat and possessions set on fire
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Homeless Man’s Blanket Set on Fire while Sleeping
November 29: Angel Dejesus, 49, usually sleeps outside the Liberty Gas Station, covered in a blanket. Around 7 pm, two juveniles who set his blanket on fire startled him awake. Dejesus was treated for minor burns on his fingers and hands at Episcopal Hospital. A surveillance camera at the gas station reveals blurry footage of the incident and police are unsure what the juveniles look like or what they used to start the fire.
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