(CBS DETROIT) – A Detroit man is facing charges in connection with set his former colleagues on fire earlier this week.
The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office has charged Roberto Romero with two counts of assault with intent to murder, distributing indecent substances causing bodily injury, two counts of assault with intent to inflict great bodily injury and two counts of aggravated assault.
Romero was arraigned on Wednesday and remanded in custody.
The incident happened around 6 a.m. Monday in the 1000 block of West Grand Boulevard in Detroit. Prosecutors say Romero sprayed a flammable liquid on two women, ages 57 and 50, before setting them on fire.
He fled, but was arrested shortly afterwards.
Police Chief James White said Romero, who worked with the victims, was recently fired or suspended. He said Romero was caught by a witness, who held him until police arrived.
White also said the attack is an example of a larger problem.
“We have a lot of people who seem emotionally unregulated. You have situations where conflict problem-solving just doesn’t exist anymore. People can’t solve problems,” he said.
