Part of a Walmart in metro Atlanta is under repair and off-limits to shoppers after a 13-year-old boy allegedly started a fire inside the store Sunday afternoon.
The incident puzzled people who shop at the Douglas County store on Thornton Road, Channel 2 Action News reported.
“It was crazy,” said Janice Scott, whose plans to shop at the store Sunday were scuttled by the blaze.
About 2:30 p.m., the boy, who was with his mother, started the fire with a lighter and cotton balls, the news station reported. He reportedly stayed in the store and confessed, and is now facing arson and shoplifting charges.
Scott said she saw the pandemonium Sunday when she arrived at the store.
“I saw a lot of smoke,” she said, “and police and fire trucks and everything was just lined up.”
It could have been worse.
“The whole store could have been on fire,” another customer said.
However, some people still are wondering what prompted such an incident.
“There is something happening and missing at home to allow him to do that,” Scott said. “You don't just go in the store and light a fire.”
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