Home > Grieving Father Sets Van Ablaze After Learning Son Killed

Grieving Father Sets Van Ablaze After Learning Son Killed

by Open-Publishing - Thursday 26 August 2004

20-Year-Old Marine Was On Second Tour Of Duty In Iraq

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. — A Hollywood man who had just been told his Marine son had been killed in combat in Iraq set fire to a Marine Corps van and suffered severe burns Wednesday, police said.

Carlos Arredondo, 44, sustained second-degree burns over 50 percent of his body and was being transferred to Ryder Trauma Center in Miami after being taken to Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood.

He was listed in serious condition with severe burns to his arms and legs.

The Hollywood Police Department’s public information officer said Marines went to Arresondo’s home Wednesday afternoon to notify him that his 20-year-old son, Alexander Arredondo, pictured at left, had been killed.

Slideshow: Van Set On Fire Note: Some Images May Be Disturbing

Police say that when the father learned the news, he went inside his home, got a tank of gasoline and a blow torch, broke the van’s window, poured gas inside and started the fire.

Carlos Arredondo apparently got caught in the blaze and suffered several burns.

The incident happened just after 2 p.m. on Tyler Street in Hollywood.

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