CHULA VISTA, Calif. — Chula Vista Police reported that a man has been arrested for allegedly starting a fire in a convenience store Saturday morning that left two employees with serious burns.
Jose Carlos Villanueva, 47, of Chula Vista was taken into custody in Redlands, more than 100 miles north in San Bernardino County
Police said the act was not random and believe Villanueva was known to at least one of the victims.
"Sad that these things are happening," 7- Eleven customer George Jones said.
Officers were called to the 7-Eleven near the intersection of Broadway and L Street just after 8 a.m. Saturday. While en route, they learned a store employee was possibly on fire in the building.
When officers arrived, they saw smoke billowing out of the front door of the store and a woman suffering significant burns who had walked out.
Officers heard a voice coming from inside the store and pulled out a second woman who had serious burn injuries and was unable to move on her own.
Both women were taken to a hospital. Police say one is in critical condition with life-threatening injuries, the other is in serious condition.
Due to the suspicious nature of the fire, Chula Vista Police detectives and Chula Vista Fire arson investigators were called to the scene. Police said their initial findings show a man entered the store and ignited the fire using a flammable liquid, likely gasoline, before driving away.
The man was last seen driving eastbound on L Street in a dark BMW sedan. Investigators were able to determine its license plate number and entered it into a criminal database. Police in Redlands spotted the car at a gas station after receiving a notification from an Automated License Plate Reader and arrested Villanueva without incident.
Several customers we're turned away by a sign at the door that read 'store closed' Saturday. Jones is a regular at the convenience store, he buys lottery tickets frequently and is familiar with the staff.
"I felt really bad, I called a couple of my friends and I called one of our former friends that knew her as well and they were shocked to hear this type of news," Jones said.
Police are asking potential witnesses to come forward. Anyone with information is asked to contact San Diego County Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477 or submit tips anonymously online or through the P3tips mobile application.