Gwinnett County Fire Investigators are currently looking into a deliberate act of arson against a local business in (unincorporated) Lilburn.  The incident occurred on November 13, 2017 at the Waypoint Homes, located in the 4051 block of Stone Mountain Highway, SW near Killian Hill Road.  Firefighters were called to the scene by an employee shortly before 7 a.m.

The employee was working inside the office area at the time and heard glass breaking as an object was thrown through the window of a nearby conference room.  The employee hesitated at first and immediately thought that someone was attempting to break into the business.  After a few seconds, the employee went to the front and encountered smoke and flames coming from the conference room.  The employee sprang into action and quickly doused the fire before calling 9-1-1.  Responding fire crews found the fire extinguished on arrival and worked to clear smoke from the structure.  Fire Investigators were requested to respond based on the suspicious circumstances.

Fire Investigators collected evidence from the scene that included remnants of a spent Molotov cocktail, liquid accelerant and a rock.  Video evidence was also obtained by Fire Investigators that shows an unidentified subject throwing a rock through the window and tossing a flaming object inside the room.  The subject then drives off in a sedan.  “Fortunately, the employee was not injured and was able to quickly smother the fire with a floor mat and water,” said Gwinnett Fire Captain Tommy Rutledge.  The blaze caused minor damage to a wall and part of the carpeting within the conference room and sent smoke throughout the office suite.  Fire Investigators are talking with management and employees at the business to develop potential leads.  The business appears to have been targeted; however, there is no suspect or motive for the crime. 

Anyone with information about the fire or the individual seen in the video footage is asked to please contact the Gwinnett Fire Investigations Section at 678.518.4890 or the Georgia Arson Control Hotline at 1-800-282-5804.  Georgia Arson Control, Inc. offers a reward of UP TO $10,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible.  Arson is a serious felony crime and is punishable by imprisonment and associated fines.  The individual in this particular case will likely face a host of felony charges based on endangering the occupant, as well as, others within the mixed-use office and retail plaza.

VIMEO VIDEO/PHOTO LINK:  https://vimeo.com/243108686