Skip to main content
Clear icon
67Āŗ

Arsonist sets preschool playground on fire in Homestead

HOMESTEAD, Fla. ā€“ Students at a preschool in Homestead were in tears on Monday when they learned their playground had been destroyed.

Surveillance video shows an arsonist with long hair, who was wearing a ski mask, set the playground, at 1405 NE 8th St., on fire early Monday morning.

ā€œWe feel really bad for the children. They really loved this playground,ā€ said Jorge Lopez, the owner of the Campbell Academy.

This is a photograph of the playground in Homestead before an arsonist destroyed it on Monday, detectives said. (FDOFS)

The school owner had bought the pirate-themed playground for the school reopening in February and is offering a $10,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest.

Lopez said there were no threats made to the school and he doesnā€™t know who would do this.

His message for the arsonist: ā€œIf your children were to be here, how would you explain this to them?ā€

The Homestead Police Department and the Florida Department of Financial Servicesā€™ Division of Investigative and Forensic Services detectives are investigating the case.

Detectives are asking anyone with information about the case to call FDOS at 1-877-662-7766 or Miami-Dade County Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.

Local 10 News Assignment Desk Editor Emily Hales contributed to this report.


Recommended Videos