Florida man allegedly poured gasoline on man and lit him on fire during dispute
05/31/2023 12:19 pm PDT
TAMPA, Fla. (TCD) -- A 34-year-old man is in custody after allegedly pouring gasoline on another man and lighting him on fire during an argument over the weekend.
On Sunday, May 28, shortly after 4:30 p.m., Earl Hargrove Jr. and the victim got into a verbal dispute at a Mobile gas station on 22nd Street, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said. Following the purported argument, Hargrove allegedly purchased "a small amount of gasoline," threw some on the victim, and lit him on fire.
The victim was transported to the Tampa General Hospital in critical condition and sustained life-threatening injuries.
Deputies took Hargrove into custody and booked him into the Hillsborough County Jail on charges of aggravated battery with great bodily harm and attempted first-degree murder. He remains held on $115,000 bond.
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said, "A verbal argument should never escalate to this level of violence."
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