(by Samantha Dunne, ClickOrlando.com, June 23, 2023)
A man was arrested Thursday after dumping gasoline and setting fire to the Leesburg Masonic Lodge last week because he was mad at what it stood for, an affidavit shows.
According to detectives, Luke Pratt, 22, was arrested after the fire that destroyed the fraternal organization’s building, located at 200 Richey Road off West Main Street, around 10:40 p.m. on June 14.
Surveillance video from that night shows Pratt approach the building with a gas can and baseball bat, investigators said. He then leaves the property and comes back minutes later, when flames were seen erupting from the building, according to the arrest affidavit.
During an investigation, detectives said they recovered explosive devices from Pratt’s home and discovered that he confessed to setting the fire to his family, after which he was committed under…
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Surveillance video from that night shows Pratt approach the building with a gas can and baseball bat, investigators said. He then leaves the property and comes back minutes later, when flames were seen erupting from the building, according to the arrest affidavit.
During an investigation, detectives said they recovered explosive devices from Pratt’s home and discovered that he confessed to setting the fire to his family, after which he was committed under…
read more: