Suspect Rescued From Fire After Slamming Vehicle Into Grocery Store And Dousing Himself With Gasoline

Everett, WA – A Washington man rammed his vehicle through the front doors of a grocery store and dumped gasoline over himself shortly before his car burst into flames on Friday night, according to police.

The incident occurred at the Fred Meyer grocery store located at 8530 Evergreen Way at approximately 6 p.m. on Dec. 23, the Everett Police Department (EPD) said in a press release later that night.

Investigators said the suspect, described as a man in his 50s, drove his car through the front doors of the grocery store entrance, then began pouring gasoline all over himself.

Photos from the scene showed the dark-colored car was covered in white, spray-painted words, My Everett News reported.

While a number of EPD officers spoke with the man and tried to get him to exit the car, other officers evacuated employees and customers from the store, according to the news outlet.

The Everett Fire Department responded to the scene, as did an EPD Designated Crisis Responder, My Everett News reported.

Police spoke with the suspect for about an hour, but he still allegedly refused to exit the car.

That’s when the vehicle suddenly exploded into flames, My Everett News reported.

Multiple officers and an Everett firefighter yanked the gasoline-covered suspect to safety before the EPD moved in to douse the blaze.

EFD is on scene of a an @EverettPolice incident at Fred Meyer – 8530 Evergreen Wy. Firefighters are working to extinguish a vehicle fire at the front entry way to the building. No extension of fire into the store. Medics transporting 1 subj w/burns to hospital. Condition unknown. pic.twitter.com/Mjizt8O5UV

— Everett Fire WA (@EverettFire) December 24, 2022

The suspect was treated at the scene and subsequently transported to Providence Regional Medical Center by ambulance, My Everett News reported.

He was later released and booked into the Snohomish County Jail on multiple felony counts, according to the news outlet.

His identity was not immediately released.

Police said no one but the suspect was injured during the incident.

The store’s entrance was extensively damaged in the crash, but firefighters were able to keep the flames from reaching the inside of the building, according to My Everett News.

Investigators are still working to determine how the car ignited.