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BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — A Boston woman was arraigned on Friday after she allegedly attempted to light people on fire outside the Downtown Crossing Roche Bros. store, according to District Attorney Kevin Hayden.
On Thursday evening Boston police received reports of a woman in a flowered top attempting to set people on fire using a lighter and Lysol. The woman had left the bathroom in the store holding the lighter and Lysol and tried to set other shoppers on fire, according to authorities. When police arrived on the scene, the suspect fled into the MBTA Downtown Crossing station and was arrested.
The woman was later identified as 42-year-old Boston resident Syretta Copeland.
One victim told police they felt the Lysol spray on their skin before Copeland attempted to light the spray.
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“This woman is lucky she didn’t cause serious injuries to her victims or to herself by engaging in such dangerous behavior. I’m thankful that the staff members in the store were alert and provided information that led to this arrest,” D.A Hayden said.
Copeland was charged with three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, one charge of resisting arrest, and one charge of possessing an incendiary device/chemical/bio/nuclear weapon. Copeland was ordered to have no contact with the victims and witnesses and to stay away from Downtown Crossing Roche Bros. where the incident occurred.
Copeland will return to court on November 17 for a probable cause hearing.
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