Bill
12-30-2015, 2:31pm
Man, 37, charged with arson in southwest Houston mosque fire
Arson arrest in mosque fire
Updated 2 hrs 5 mins ago
HOUSTON (KTRK) --
Gary Nathaniel Moore, 37, was arrested and charged with arson today after a fire devastated a southwest Houston mosque on Christmas Day.
In a court filing, police allege Moore set fire to the mosque in five separate locations with a charcoal lighter.
An investigator who identified Moore said he spoke to him at the scene of the fire, according to court papers.
Investigators also cited in court records say they identified Moore as the suspect via surveillance video from a pharmacy adjacent to the mosque. Claims by law enforcement in court records show the suspect was seen walking quickly from the mosque shortly before smoke erupted from the building.
Police allege during a search of Moore's home that they recovered a backpack and clothing that appeared to be the same items seen in the surveillance video from the time of the fire, court records show.
Police also say they found a single charcoal lighter -- which appears to have been sold as a pair -- at Moore's home. In addition, they allege a charcoal lighter found at scene matched the one found at Moore's home using markers and stamped numbers on the containers, records show.
Authorities say in those court papers that they took computers, tablets, cell phones, and other electronic devices for forensic testing from the Moore's home.
Moore is currently in police custody on $10,000 bond.
No one was hurt in the Christmas Day fire at the shopping center on Wilcrest.
Firefighters said at the time of the fire that they were suspicious because the fire appeared to have more than one point or origin.
Man, 37, charged with arson in southwest Houston mosque fire | abc13.com (http://abc13.com/news/man-37-charged-with-arson-in-sw-houston-mosque-fire-/1140625/)
The guy has the same crazy, dead-eye look as all of the recent mass shooters. Coincidence?
Arson arrest in mosque fire
Updated 2 hrs 5 mins ago
HOUSTON (KTRK) --
Gary Nathaniel Moore, 37, was arrested and charged with arson today after a fire devastated a southwest Houston mosque on Christmas Day.
In a court filing, police allege Moore set fire to the mosque in five separate locations with a charcoal lighter.
An investigator who identified Moore said he spoke to him at the scene of the fire, according to court papers.
Investigators also cited in court records say they identified Moore as the suspect via surveillance video from a pharmacy adjacent to the mosque. Claims by law enforcement in court records show the suspect was seen walking quickly from the mosque shortly before smoke erupted from the building.
Police allege during a search of Moore's home that they recovered a backpack and clothing that appeared to be the same items seen in the surveillance video from the time of the fire, court records show.
Police also say they found a single charcoal lighter -- which appears to have been sold as a pair -- at Moore's home. In addition, they allege a charcoal lighter found at scene matched the one found at Moore's home using markers and stamped numbers on the containers, records show.
Authorities say in those court papers that they took computers, tablets, cell phones, and other electronic devices for forensic testing from the Moore's home.
Moore is currently in police custody on $10,000 bond.
No one was hurt in the Christmas Day fire at the shopping center on Wilcrest.
Firefighters said at the time of the fire that they were suspicious because the fire appeared to have more than one point or origin.
Man, 37, charged with arson in southwest Houston mosque fire | abc13.com (http://abc13.com/news/man-37-charged-with-arson-in-sw-houston-mosque-fire-/1140625/)
The guy has the same crazy, dead-eye look as all of the recent mass shooters. Coincidence?