A man has been arrested and charged with six counts of attempted homicide after allegedly driving over 700 miles to set fire to a property in Pennsylvania. The suspect, identified as Harrison Jones from Rockford, Michigan, is accused of targeting another man who had reportedly been in contact with his ex-girlfriend, according to the Bensalem Police Department.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/arson-attack-021825-1-deb9c45115c346ecadb904917eb872b8.jpg)
On Monday, February 17, police confirmed that Jones set fire to a property on Merganser Way in Bensalem Township around 5:22 a.m. Six adult residents managed to evacuate from the home, with some having to jump out of second-story windows to escape the flames. Tragically, two dogs perished in the fire, and the adults sustained injuries and were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
The investigation revealed that the fire was intentionally set, with nearby home surveillance capturing a black sedan stopping near the property before the incident occurred. Detectives were able to track the vehicle, a 2021 black Volkswagen Passat registered to Brian Jones, who resides at the same address as the suspect. Additionally, residents informed police that a 21-year-old male resident had an online relationship with a woman from Michigan, believed to be Jones’ ex-girlfriend.
With assistance from the Kent County Sheriff’s Office in Michigan, a search warrant was executed at Jones’ residence, leading to the seizure of the associated vehicle, lock-picking devices, a cell phone, and a computer. When authorities made contact with Jones, he was found to have burns on his arm, further implicating him in the crime.
Following approval from the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office, an arrest warrant was issued for Jones on charges including attempted criminal homicide, arson, risking catastrophe, and related offences. He is currently awaiting extradition back to Pennsylvania to face the charges brought against him.
The swift action and collaboration between law enforcement agencies in Michigan and Pennsylvania played a crucial role in identifying and apprehending the suspect before he could cause further harm. The case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of domestic disputes escalating to such extreme levels, highlighting the importance of prompt intervention and investigation to prevent tragedies like this from occurring in the future.
For more updates on this developing story and other crime news, stay tuned to reliable news sources like PEOPLE’s True Crime newsletter, providing comprehensive coverage of breaking crime updates, ongoing trials, and intriguing unsolved cases. As authorities continue to investigate this incident, the community remains on alert, with the hope of ensuring justice is served and preventing similar acts of violence in the future.