Corona police searching for arson suspect who set vehicle, then himself, on fire

CORONA, Calif. - A search is underway in Corona for a man who was caught on camera intentionally setting a vehicle, then himself, on fire.

What we know:

The incident happened in the early morning hours of Tuesday, March 4.

Officers with the Corona Police Department responded to a vehicle fire in the 900 block of Wakefield Avenue.

Video footage from a resident's Ring camera shows the male suspect intentionally setting the vehicle, then himself, on fire.

The suspect, believed to be in his 30s, then got into a white pickup truck - possibly a Chevrolet or GMC, with tinted windows and light-colored rims - and drove away from the scene.

The suspect is described as having a medium build, standing between 5'9" and 6'1", with shoulder-length, light-colored hair. 

The blaze destroyed the vehicle and caused moderate damage to the nearby residence.

The owner of the burned vehicle, who has lived with her husband in the same house for over 20 years, does not recognize the suspect. Neighbors, mostly retirees, don't recognize him either. 

The neighborhood, according to Corona police, is quiet with little in the way of crime-related calls. 

Neighbors on edge 

The victims say they are afraid and don't see a reason why they would have been targeted. The owner of the car says she can't remember getting into any incidents with other drivers on her way to and from work, so does not know why the person went through that much trouble to destroy her car.

There was also damage to the trees next to the parked car and roof. Windows were also shattered from the explosion, so there's quite a bit of smoke inside. She said it sounded so loud, she thought it was an earthquake. 

What we don't know:

The motive behind the arson remains unclear, and authorities are working to identify the suspect and gather more information about the incident.

The extent of the suspect's injuries, if any, are not known.

What's next:

The Corona Fire Department is urging anyone with information or additional video footage to come forward. Individuals can contact Fire Investigator Travis Boan via email at travis.boan@coronaca.gov or by phone at 951-736-2219.