Suspected arson has severely damaged HM Hormiguitas Beauty Supply, a family-owned business in downtown Los Angeles' Santee Alley, as reported by NBC Los Angeles. The fire broke out early Tuesday morning and was contained within 18 minutes, thankfully resulting in no injuries. The store, operational since 2011, is considered much more than a commercial entity by its owners; it represents their means of survival, their way to provide for their family.
Surveillance video captured the moments leading up to the fire, showing a male suspect pouring a flammable substance in front of the store and then setting it ablaze. The Mendez family, owners of the beauty supply store, have been forced to suddenly confront the wreckage of what was built over the span of 15 years. Valerie Mendez, expressing the trauma induced by the incident, told KTLA, "We’re scared. We don’t know who did this, but when we saw the footage of the guy, we realized it was definitely targeted at our family. This was definitely intentional."
The aftermath has left the Mendez family facing significant financial strife, with an estimated $70,000 in merchandise lost to the flames. The shocking event has raised concerns among other business owners in the area, with Avdel Gomez, a neighboring Santee Alley entrepreneur, admitting to KTLA, "It's very scary. Everybody's worried about it because we don't really know what [the suspect's] intentions can be."
In response to their loss and in an effort to start to rebuild, the family has reached out to the community for support through an Instagram post. "The past few months have already been challenging with slower foot traffic, and now this fire has made things even harder," the family stated on their Instagram account. They have initiated a fundraising campaign, asking for donations to help recover, replace the lost inventory, and begin the process of revival. The Hmhormiguitas Family has extended their gratitude, imploring, "From the bottom of our hearts—thank you."
As of now, there have been no arrests made in connection with the fire. Authorities, including the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles Fire Department arson investigators, are urging anyone with information regarding the case to come forward and contact LAPD at 1-877-527-3247. The search for the suspect continues with heightened vigilance within the community.
