Suspected pyro caught on camera setting SoCal mall fires tried take officer’s gun, cops says

An alleged arsonist, identified as Luis Javier Gallegos Jr., 28, from Rancho Cucamonga, was apprehended by authorities after setting multiple fires inside the bustling Ontario Mills mall. The disturbing incident was captured on video, showing Gallegos lighting a True Religion store ablaze, among other fires set within the mall.

In the video, police officers can be seen struggling with the suspect, forcefully subduing him and handcuffing him as onlookers watched in shock. Gallegos faces charges of felony arson, resisting arrest, making criminal threats, and attempting to grab an officer’s gun during the altercation.

Following the arrest, Gallegos was booked into custody at the West Valley Detention Center with bail set at $1,000,000. The fires prompted the evacuation of the mall and led to its closure for the remainder of the day. With approximately 28 million visitors annually, Ontario Mills is renowned as one of California’s premier shopping destinations.

Firefighters from the Ontario Fire Department responded to the scene after receiving reports of fires erupting inside various stores within the mall. Battalion Chief Scot Roeber described the fires as suspicious, confirming that they had all been extinguished.

Gallegos is scheduled to appear in court on April 14 at the Rancho Superior Court to face the charges brought against him. The incident at Ontario Mills follows another significant fire in the city, where a massive blaze engulfed the Kimberly-Clarke warehouse just a few miles away earlier in the week.

While there is currently no evidence linking the two fires, investigations continue to determine the circumstances surrounding both incidents. The community remains on edge as authorities work to ensure the safety and security of residents and visitors in the area.