Crime

Police: Suspect tried to light people on fire in Downtown Crossing store

Syretta Copeland allegedly used aerosol cleaning products and a lighter to target customers at Roche Brothers.

October 28, 2022

1 minute to read

A person was arrested Thursday evening for allegedly trying to set people on fire in a Downtown Crossing supermarket.

Boston police responded to the scene at Roche Brothers, 8 Summer St., at 4:41 p.m., the department said in a release.

Once on the scene, officers were told that the suspect, who was later identified as 42-year-old Boston resident Syretta Copeland, was “was observed inside the store spraying aerosol cleaning products on other customers and then attempting to light that chemical on fire with a handheld lighter.”

Following a brief foot chase, officers arrested the suspect.

Copeland is expected to appear in Boston Municipal Court on charges of assault by means of a dangerous weapon, resisting arrest, and possession of an incendiary device, police said.

Heather Alterisio

Senior Content Producer

Heather Alterisio, a senior content producer, joined Boston.com in 2022 after working for more than five years as a general assignment reporter at newspapers in Massachusetts.