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A homeless man accused of a fatal arson attack on a man who declined to give him a handout outside a Long Beach convenience store has been charged with capital murder, and could face the death penalty.
38-year-old Raymond Sean Clark has been charged in the deadly attack which took place Friday evening outside a 7-Eleven near Clark Avenue and Pacific Coast Highway.
Clark allegedly asked the victim, identified as 63-year-old Jerry Payne, for money outside the store. Payne denied Clark, then entered the store. When Payne returned to his parked Toyota 4-Runner, Clark allegedly threw a bottle into an open window of the vehicle with Payne inside, and the object immediately burst into flames, engulfing the SUV.
Witnesses put out the fire, and Clark was arrested shortly thereafter.
Payne died Monday of his injuries.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced the charges against Clark Tuesday. The complaint also alleges special circumstances of lying in wait, torture and mayhem, according to the LADA.
Clark is being held without bail.
Previously
Man Set On Fire By Homeless Man Outside 7-Eleven Has Died
Man Set On Fire By Homeless Man Outside 7-Eleven
