MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — A judge on Saturday found probable cause to hold a 33-year-old man accused of setting a fire at a Miami-Dade residence on 12 felony charges, including first-degree arson and 11 counts of attempted felony murder.
Gyasi Weir appeared in Miami-Dade bond court Saturday, where a public defender argued that while there may be weak probable cause for arson, the attempted murder charges were unsupported by law.
Weir’s defense team said state statute requires that the underlying felony must pose a real risk of death, and the suspect’s arrest affidavit did not indicate anyone was harmed or even aware of the fire.
According to the defense, the fire was extinguished before first responders arrived and there was no evidence that 11 specific individuals were endangered or trapped.
Prosecutors countered that Weir intentionally set fire to the door of the home while one of the victims and her children were asleep inside. While the fire did not spread, state prosecutors argued it easily could have, putting the sleeping occupants at risk.
The judge sided with the prosecution, finding probable cause for all 12 charges.
As of Saturday, Weir is being held without bond at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
Local 10 News has requested his arrest affidavit from authorities.
Local 10 assignment editor Carson Merlo contributed to this story.
Copyright 2025 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.
