WASHINGTON, D.C. — A sudden fire broke out inside Comet ping-pong Pizza around nine p.m. on Wednesday.
The same establishment was targeted by online trolls during the presidential election. They circulated a fake story about a child sex ring -- a man who believed the fake stories shot up the restaurant in December 2016.
Some of the people inside Comet Ping-Pong when the fire broke out believe it also was a deliberate act.
"All of a sudden we see these flames. A fire has been started -- a very big fire," said witness Nicole Lafragola.
One man saw the curtains in the back of the restaurant suddenly burst into flames. He pulled them to the ground while employees doused them with fire extinguishers, and he's also suspicious.
" I smelled what smelled like a lot of lighter fluid," he said. "My suspicion is it’s arson, I don’t have the evidence on that."
Nicole Lafragola says she saw a man acting strangely in the moments before the curtains burst into flames, and that the way he acted when the fire broke out was strange.
"He seemed like he was there with a purpose obviously, and he didn’t stick around. This gentleman doesn’t acknowledge that he sees this fire, he just walks right out and doesn’t make eye contact with anyone," she said.
DC Fire is currently reviewing evidence, and will make a determination about whether or not the fire was arson.
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Elfchiro ago
Property was damaged by a suspicious fire. Fire martial needs to go in and inspect the entire property. Just doing my job sir. ;)
srayzie ago
Oh that is a good thought! Like the fire at the Clinton’s!