He’s accused of intentionally starting a fire, then stealing some buckets to try to extinguish the blaze. But before the 27-year-old man could get back home, he struck two people while driving under the influence of drugs and nearly hit two others, according to police.
It started when the woman with whom Jonathan Vasquez shared an apartment in Norcross left with the couple’s children. On Friday, Vasquez remained in the Gwinnett County jail without bond, charged with numerous counts related to the bizarre string of events.
“I can’t believe you did this to us for no reason,” Christine Chen Thorbourne told Channel 2 Action News.
Thorbourne is in a wheelchair and her daughter is on crutches after both were struck as they tried to escape from the fire last week at their Bella Apartments on Wynhollow Trace off Beaver Ruin Road. Eight units at the complex were damaged by the fire.
According to investigators, Vasquez was alone in his apartment when he intentionally started a fire Sept. 18. Despite being under the influence of drugs described only as stimulants, Vasquez drove to a nearby Lowe’s store, where he stole three 5-gallon buckets, his warrants state.
From the store, he drove erratically back to his complex. By then, neighbors were scrambling to get outside and away from the flames, according to witnesses.
That’s when Vasquez allegedly hit both Thorbourne and her daughter and nearly hit two others, police said. Then, he crashed into a building. His neighbors were shocked when Vasquez was then seen running back into his second-floor apartment.
“He said that his kids, he had to say his last goodbyes to his kids,” Eileen Ayala told Channel 2.
But there was no one inside his apartment, and Vasquez jumped from a balcony and was tackled by officers, witnesses said. He was arrested and charged with four counts of aggravated assault, first-degree arson, hit-and-run resulting in serious injury, DUI, reckless driving, and theft by taking, jail records show. He was also missing a brake light and charged with being a habitual violator.
“It’s really terrible right now,” Thorbourne said. “We lost everything. Me and my family lost everything.”
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