BOSTON — A Boston woman is facing charges for allegedly assaulting people outside of a grocery store and trying to light them on fire.
Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced the charges against Syretta Copeland, 42, in a news release. According to investigators, Copeland was outside of Roche Bros. grocery store in Boston’s Downtown Crossing with a lighter and Lysol, attempting to set people on fire.
Copeland was charged with three counts of assault with a deadly weapon, one count of resisting arrest, and one count of possessing an incendiary device, WFXT reported.
Hayden said in the news release that Copeland had exited a bathroom inside a store with the lighter and Lysol, and began attempting to set people on fire. “One victim reported feeling the spray on her skin prior to the defendant attempting to light the spray,” Hayden said.
Officers said that when they arrived at the scene, staff members identified Copeland, who then ran from police into a nearby subway station where she was arrested after a brief struggle.
“This woman is lucky she didn’t cause serious injuries to her victims or to herself by engaging in such dangerous behavior,” Hayden said. “I’m thankful that the staff members in the store were alert and provided information that led to this arrest.”
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