A man in Florida has been apprehended after allegedly intentionally setting his ex-girlfriend’s house on fire following their breakup. The suspect, identified as James Hines, was reportedly dissatisfied with the end of their romantic relationship. Authorities revealed that Hines sent a series of threats to the female victims, including a chilling message expressing his intention to burn the house down with both of them inside. The incident occurred in Brooksville, Florida, in the early hours of July 5.
The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed the arrest of James Hines, who had been involved in a romantic relationship with one of the female victims. Dissatisfied with their recent breakup, Hines sent multiple threats to the victims, explicitly stating his plan to set the house ablaze with them trapped inside.
According to deputies, Hines began sending threatening messages to the female victims on the evening of July 4, around 10 p.m. A witness informed officials that they had encountered Hines, who was riding a bicycle and carrying a bag of unknown items. Hines allegedly mentioned that he was heading to the victim’s residence. Surveillance footage from a Speedway in Brooksville showed Hines entering the store at 1:30 a.m. on July 5, where he purchased gloves, a medical-type face mask, and $5 worth of gasoline.
Law enforcement officers located Hines at his residence on July 5 at 1:41 p.m. When confronted, he attempted to escape by jumping out of a window while threatening to kill the officers. Hines barricaded himself inside the residence until 9:39 p.m., when shots were fired, and he was eventually apprehended. The suspect sustained non-life-threatening injuries after being shot by law enforcement officers.
James Hines is now facing multiple charges, including two counts of attempted first-degree murder, first-degree arson, written threats to kill/injure, and unlawful use of a two-way communications device. His bond has been set at $260,000.