Earlier yesterday, a Tampa neighborhood was disrupted by the sound of gunfire and the emergent glow of flames, as 29-year-old Arvin Solimanpoor allegedly set fire to a Lois Ave. building and opened fire inside it, Tampa authorities have reported. According to the Tampa Police Department, the incident transpired at a multi-business complex located at 5215 N. Lois Ave; Solimanpoor now faces multiple charges including arson and battery on a law enforcement officer.
It was just before 5:00 a.m. when the accused, capturing the attention of local law enforcement and bystanders alike, was seen engaging in a destructive act that ended in a physical altercation and his subsequent arrest, officers arrived on the scene within minutes to find Solimanpoor dragging brush into the already ignited structure, a handgun was discovered on his person, leading to his detainment for questioning at Tampa Police District One office. During the fire-fighting efforts, a Tampa Fire Rescue firefighter sustained injuries but was later released from the hospital after receiving care for minor harm.
While in custody, the suspect's behavior escalated to further offenses beyond the initial criminal acts; Solimanpoor damaged property within the holding area and assaulted a police officer, after requesting water, he reportedly urinated in the bottle afterwards throwing its contents at an officer. His litany of charges includes Arson with Injury, Shooting at, within, or into a Building, Possession of a Weapon During the Commission of a Felony, Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer, and Felony Criminal Mischief, following these events he was taken to Orient Road Jail.
The investigation by Tampa authorities into the series of events remains underway, with the potential for new information to surface as the case progresses; the Tampa Police Department promises further updates as they become available, Solimanpoor's actions have not only risked the well-being of first responders but have shaken the sense of security within the community the building he targeted standing now as a charred reminder of the violence inflicted.
