Massachusetts Man Arrested for Attempted Arson of Assisted Living Facility
A 36-year-old Massachusetts man was recently arrested and charged with two counts of attempted arson. According to the criminal complaint, on April 2, 2020, police discovered a homemade incendiary device at the entrance of the Jewish-sponsored assisted living facility for seniors of all faiths. A five-gallon gasoline canister was placed at the facility’s entrance a few feet away from a widely used pedestrian walkway, and approximately 50 yards from the facility that is located within one square mile of several other Jewish facilities, including three temples, a school, and a community center.
A U.S. Attorney made this statement about the incident: “In times of national crisis, hatred based on religion often blossoms into violence.” The special agent in charge of the FBI Boston Division made this statement: “This case highlights the very real threat posed by racially motivated violent extremists….”
In March 2020, a white supremacist organization that operated on two social media platforms was identified by law enforcement. On these platforms, users promoted mass killings in the United States and elsewhere, directed against religious, racial, and ethnic minorities; discussed plans to engage in these crimes themselves; discussed using various explosive and incendiary devices, including improvised devices commonly known as “Molotov cocktails”; and identified targets, such as mosques and synagogues.
On or about March 4, 2020, a user on the first social media platform specified two choices for mass killings that included a reference to the assisted living facility.
Compliance Perspective
Failure to have an all-hazard Emergency Response Plan in place that addresses potentially violent situations like attempted arson, active shooter, and more, may cause the facility to be considered in breach of residents’ right to be free of abuse, neglect, and exploitation and providing substandard quality of care, in violation of state and federal regulations.
Discussion Points:
- Review policies and procedures and the facility’s all-hazard Emergency Response Plan to ensure that it contains adequate provisions to address emergency situations like an attempted arson or an active shooter.
- Train staff members on the provisions of the Emergency Response Plan and the protocols for them to follow should such an incident occur.
- Periodically audit the facility’s ability to respond to emergency situations by holding mock emergency response drills.
