Ray Lazier Lengend, a resident of Queens, New York, confessed on Tuesday to the series of firebombs that occurred on New Year's Day.
According
to authorities, a convenience store, two homes--that of a Hindu family and a
Christian family--and the Iman Al Khoei Islamic Center in Jamaica, Queens were
the additional targets.
From 8p.m to 10p.m on New Year's Day in Jamaica, Queens, several torched Molotov cocktail bottles were used, said authorities, but fortunately nobody was injured.
The home of the Christian family was set ablaze instantly, said home owner Sonia Burnett, who witnessed the fire at the front window progress into the house.
The
owner of the convenience store reported that he and his employees dealt with a
man who tried to steal a Frappuccino and a carton of milk on December 27.
The same containers were used for Molotov cocktails. Employees at the store stated that he may have been "getting even" with them, as were his threats.
Authorities are dealing with the case as a hate crime and Lengend confirmed his hostility with his confessions.
Lengend,
an unemployed truck driver, stated that his actions were precipitated by
vengeance.
The
Mosque didn't allow him to use their bathroom in the past. He was not on good
terms with an in-law at the Elmont home. And, the house of a cocaine dealer was
his intended target but he aimed at the wrong house.
Lengend, 40, was charged with five counts of criminal possession of a weapon and five counts of arson. Police are considering one of the counts of arson a hate crime.