Man ignites himself at gas pump
An Allegheny County man is facing charges after Cranberry Township police said he poured gasoline on himself at a gas station and ignited himself.
Harris Dale Booker, 27, of Bradford Woods, has been charged with felony counts of arson and risking catastrophe and misdemeanor charges of reckless endangerment and criminal mischief in a complaint filed following Saturday’s incident.
Township police, firefighters and emergency medical crews were dispatched to the BP station on Route 19 at 7 a.m. and found the fire had been extinguished, but surveillance camera recorded the incident, according to police.
The video shows Booker entering the store and prepaying for gas, exiting the store, dispensing gas on himself and the ground around him and igniting the gas, police said.
According to police, the footage shows him briefly standing in the flames before walking toward the building to remove his burning clothes, police said. He remained there until a passerby stopped and extinguished the fire using a portable extinguisher.
Police said they found a text message from Booker saying he intended to blow up the gas station.
The fire left visible damage, including charring and burn marks to a gas pump, a vehicle and the pavement between the pumps and the building, police said.
Booker was treated at UPMC Mercy for burns on his arms and legs.
