A man accidentally set himself on fire while allegedly trying to burn down his neighbours’ home.
Tony McDaniel allegedly racially abused the victims before carrying out the arson attack.
Police were dispatched to the scene after receiving a call about a man on fire in the middle of a junction.
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Witnesses saw him running, while on fire, towards his mobile home parked outside a tyre shop.
The three victims later told officers that McDaniel, 47, had yelled racial slurs at them and threatened to set their home alight.
A woman recounted how he had left and later returned to her home with a petrol canister, as reported by Need To Know.
“McDaniel poured gasoline down the side of the home and into the roadway before pulling out a lighter and igniting it,” said the arrest warrant affidavit.
“This is what caused McDaniel to catch himself on fire, along with the roadway and grassy area near the home.”
The victims managed to extinguish the flames in and around their property in Waco, Texas, using buckets of water.
Officers arrested McDaniel a short while later after breaking into his mobile home and finding him hiding under his bed.
He was taken to a local hospital to receive treatment for burn injuries to his hands after the blunder last Thursday (18 Dec).
Once discharged, he will be remanded to McLennan County Jail.
He is charged with three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
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