STOCKTON, Calif. — The search is on for the person accused of setting a Stockton apartment unit on fire in the middle of the night and then watching it burn, all while holding a gun.
According to the Stockton Police Department, the fire broke out around 2:39 a.m. Thursday in the 4500 block of Shelly Court.
As firefighters got to the area, the crime scene unfolded. Fire radio traffic captured the moments when dispatchers told crews to turn away from the flames and return to their engines and trucks after reports surfaced of a man armed with a gun.
“The victims from this apartment exited their apartment due to the fire, and they saw a male standing out there watching the fire with a firearm in hand," said Stockton Police Public Information Officer Omer Edhah. "He subsequently fled the area.”
After the arsonist left, fire crews went in and contained the blaze. The five people between the ages of 22 and 76 who were inside the apartment unit at the time were not injured.
"It was super early in the morning, wee hours of the morning so there might not be too many people out there," said Edhah. "We conduct our surveillance, canvassing the neighborhood, speaking to people. Video footage would be great so we’re exploring all those avenues… if you see something, say something."
Witnesses are asked to call the Stockton Police Department at 209-937-8377 or Stockton Crime Stoppers at 209-946-0600. Callers can remain anonymous.
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