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Teens, 12-Year-Old Charged In Supermarket Fire

Detectives Say Children Started Fire Because They Were 'Bored'

POSTED: Friday, June 20, 2008
UPDATED: 7:06 pm EDT June 20, 2008

Broward Sheriff's Office detectives Friday arrested two teenagers and a 12-year-old accused of setting fire to a North Lauderdale supermarket in an incident caught on surveillance video.

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BSO detectives received a call Thursday night from Cynthia Randell, who saw local television news broadcasts of the surveillance video and recognized her 14-year-old son as one of the three culprits. She brought her son, Samuel Randell, to the BSO's North Lauderdale district office and turned him in.

"I'm hurting because I see my baby shackled at the courthouse ... and I got to face this," Cynthia Randell said. "I can't do this no more."

Another mother also contacted the BSO after seeing her son in the surveillance video and turned him in as well. Detectives said that information led them to the third suspect, who was arrested at his home.

The surveillance video shows the trio walking up and down the charcoal, lighter fluid and matches aisle at Sedano's supermarket shortly after 4 p.m. June 12. BSO detectives said Randell was the teen caught on video lighting a match and setting the items on fire.

"I asked them what their motives were, why they decided to this, and all three of their responses were that 'We had nothing better to do. We were just kind of bored,'" Detective Shane Schroder said.

Several customers were inside the store at the time, but no one was injured.

"They did tell me that they stood out front of the grocery store after the fire started and they all watched and thought it was a joke," Schroder said.

Detectives said all three parents have cooperated with authorities.

The 13-year-old's aunt, Bridgett Primous, said she didn't know why the children thought it would be OK to set fire to a store full of people.

"Parents can't be everywhere," Primous said. "I know his mother. She's a good mother. She does the very best she can. This was an unfortunate incident and he will get the help he needs."

All three suspects were being held at the Juvenile Assessment Center in Fort Lauderdale, where they will undergo a psychiatric evaluation.

"This is more than kids just playing with matches," Broward County Sheriff Al Lamberti said. "These are juveniles (who) intentionally, knowingly planned starting fires for the purpose of doing damage."
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