A Florida man is now facing charges after he was arrested for attempting to ‘light up’ his neighbor’s car over a parking dispute.
According to police, a 57-year-old Gainesville man was enraged by his neighbors’ parking practices and shot flames from a commercial flamethrower at a car with three youngsters inside.
The Nov. 30 event resulted in no injuries. Andre Abrams, 57, is charged with three counts of felony aggravated assault with a dangerous weapon without the intent to kill.
The Nov. 30 event resulted in no injuries. Andre Abrams, 57, is charged with three counts of felony aggravated assault with a dangerous weapon without the intent to kill.
The accused man secured a $15,000 bail last week and is awaiting a decision from prosecutors on whether to pursue formal criminal charges.
Ashley Gainey, the mother of one of the teens, claims Abrams used the flamethrower to frighten away visitors to her home.
According to the Associated Press, Gainey’s daughter jumped out of the car and fled away with her friends as the man continued to spray them.
According to the media site, the driver of the car informed authorities that she observed Abrams approach them with the flamethrower in hand and start shooting flames. While escaping via the passenger’s side door, flames allegedly approached within five feet of the automobile.
According to arrest documents, the weapon was an XM42 Lite Flamethrower made by a business in Washington, according to the source.
Except for Maryland and California, the devices are said to be lawful to buy and own in every state.
According to the Associated Press, the company also needs “customers to accept a liability release and confirm they have never been convicted of a crime, domestic violence, or arson.”
Abrams was allegedly arrested and convicted of minor domestic assault twice, in 2002 and in 2004.
According to the Associated Press, Abrams stated that the incident was the consequence of a “long-running parking disagreement with a nearby family.”
According to police, he denied using the flamethrower to attack the youngsters in the automobile. Abrams refuses to comment on the matter. A public defender is representing the individual.
