MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — A man accused of throwing a customized Molotov cocktail into a southwest Miami-Dade home — an attack that deputies said left a teenage girl severely injured and endangered several children earlier this year — was arrested Thursday following a months-long investigation.
Deputies with the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office say 36-year-old Yang Chiong is responsible for the March 25 attack at a home where his former girlfriend was staying.
They said Chiong had another person purchase a mason jar, candle wick and other materials before he arrived at the house around 8:30 p.m. and hurled the device through a window.
The incendiary device shattered, struck an interior wall and exploded, igniting the living room, investigators said.
Inside were multiple family members, including young children, according to Chiong’s arrest report.
A teenage girl, seated in a recliner with her nephews, told deputies she saw a sudden flash outside the window moments before realizing she was on fire, the report stated.
Authorities said she suffered burns to 40–45% of her body.
They said family members pulled her from the flames, used a hose to extinguish the fire on her and then drove her to Baptist Health Homestead Hospital. She was later airlifted to the HCA Florida Kendall Hospital burn unit. The family dog was also injured.
While no other children were physically harmed, the blast set the living room sofa ablaze.
The family initially believed the fire was accidental, but deputies said they later found pieces of a mason jar and a partially burned wick while cleaning, along with a hole in the window that suggested something had been thrown from outside.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue investigators confirmed the blaze was intentionally set after conducting an investigation.
According to arrest records, Chiong has a history of domestic abuse and was arrested on a separate robbery and carjacking charge. His defense attorney told investigators he was wearing an ankle monitor at the time of the attack.
Jail records show Chiong is facing seven counts of attempted felony murder.
As of Friday evening, he was being held without bond at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
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