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Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

News Release

For Immediate Release

Thursday, May 21, 2015
Contact: Special Agent/PIO David Cheplak

Investigators Seeking Public Assistance in Baltimore Arsons

BALTIMORE — The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Baltimore Police Department, Baltimore Fire Department and Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office have released several screen shots of individuals who are suspected of intentionally setting several fires in Baltimore on April 27, 2015.

Since the day these fires were set, special agents from the ATF Baltimore Field Division and the ATF National Response Team (NRT) have worked together with their local counterparts at multiple scenes throughout Baltimore to determine the cause and origin of each fire. Specifically, investigations were conducted at the following seven locations:

  • CVS Pharmacy, 2509 Pennsylvania Ave.
  • CVS Pharmacy, 2560 W. Franklin St.
  • Rite Aid Pharmacy, 300 N. Martin Luther King Blvd.
  • Papa Palace Pizza and Subs, 2426 East Monument St.
  • Harvin Senior Center Apartments, 1600 N. Chester St.
  • Cash USA Pawn, 2109 W. Pratt Street
  • Fireside North Liquor Store, 2201 W. North Ave

The multi-agency task force was able to determine the area(s) of origin for each of these fires and have ruled each fire to be incendiary (intentionally set).

ATF special agents, ATF Certified Fire Investigators (CFI)s and ATF Explosive Enforcement Officers (EEO)s have determined during the unrest, as many as five incendiary devices were constructed in the vicinity of Pennsylvania and North Avenues utilizing materials presumably looted from the surrounding businesses. Four of these devices are believed to have detonated at various points throughout the evening. A fifth device, which did not detonate, is currently being examined by experts at the ATF Forensic Research Laboratory in Beltsville, Maryland.

“Those individuals who committed these acts need to be held accountable for their dangerous actions” said Baltimore Field Division Special Agent in Charge William McMullan. “ATF special agents and our local counterparts are continuing to conduct interviews, examine evidence, and review hundreds of hours of video and thousands of photographs as we pursue all investigative leads relating to each incident. In addition to these leads, we are asking for the public’s assistance in the identification of the individuals responsible for these crimes.”

As a reminder, ATF continues to offer a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for these incidents. Reward Flyers are being distributed throughout the city. Anyone with information about these incidents or the individuals depicted in the attached photographs is urged to immediately call the ATF Hotline at 1-888-ATF-FIRE (1-888-283-3473). Callers can remain anonymous.

ATF is the federal law enforcement agency with jurisdiction for investigating crimes of arson. More information on ATF and its programs can be found at https://www.atf.gov, on Twitter @ATFHQ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/HQATF.

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Baltimore Field Division