PRESS RELEASE

To: NEWSROOM

For Immediate Release

Contact: Brian A. Crawford, Assistant To The Fire Chief

June 10, 2005 - Man Charged with Fire-Bombing of Neighbor’s Home

Late this afternoon, Shreveport Fire Investigators charged a Shreveport man with fire bombing his neighbor’s home late last week . . .

Labontay Youngblood, 39, of the 500 block of Coon Street has been charged with Attempted Aggravated Arson for allegedly throwing a lit petroleum filled container at the back door of 514 Coon Street in the early morning hours of Friday, June 3.

The container burst into flames after hitting the residence but did not spread and caused little damage to the property. The home is occupied but none of the residents were injured by the incident. Youngblood is currently in the Caddo Correction Center on other charges related to probation violations. He will be served with the additional charges by Shreveport Fire Investigators today.

Fire Investigators are still looking into a similar incident at the same address on the previous night. On Thursday, June 2, the same home at 514 Coon Street was fire bombed. As in the second occurrence, there was little damage done to the property and no one was injured. Fire Investigators have listed Youngblood as a suspect in the first bombing but have not formally charged him with that crime. Attempted Aggravated Arson is a felony offence and carries a maximum sentence on 20 years hard labor and a $10,000 fine.

A mug shot is on file with Shreveport Police Department. Contact Kacee Hargrove for copy: 673-6932.

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