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New Mexico couple arrested for firework attack on homeless man. Source: Supplied
THE sight of a homeless person asleep on the side of the street can provoke a number of reactions in passers-by.
While most people would be struck by a sense of sympathy and others a compulsion to help, one couple had a more sinister thought.
Irene Enriquez and her boyfriend Joshua Benavidez were arrested in the US this week for allegedly setting fire to a sleeping homeless man by throwing a lit firework at him from a passing car.
Albuquerque police arrested the suspects when they turned themselves in after becoming aware of the extensive injuries suffered by the man and as well as a warrant issued for their arrest.
The pair told local media they were merely trying “rattle†and “startle†the man.
“It was just a prank, it was just trying to scare him, that was it,†Benavidez, 31, said.
The couple had three children in the back seat during the time of the incident.
CCTV footage showed a purple SUV driving away from the scene as the homeless man’s pants catch fire. Shortly afterwards Mr Benavidez painted his SUV white. When police initially contacted him, he denied any part in the attack.
However the arrest warrants detail how one of the children in the car at the time told investigators how his mother, Ms Enriquez, wanted to stop and throw water on the victim, but Mr Benavidez would not let her.
The child told investigators they fled the scene as they could see the homeless man’s pants smouldering — he was reportedly unconscious.
When taken in by police and in handcuffs, Ms Enriquez was visibly upset.
“I just want to say I’m sorry to my family and to my children,†she said. “I just hope [the victim] gets through this OK, and our prayers are with him.â€
When asked by a reporter if it was a prank to wake him up, she said “yesâ€.
Both are being held on a $137,000 bond and facing a litany of charges including three counts of child abuse, two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, aggravated battery causing bodily harm, tampering with evidence and conspiracy.
The victim of the attack remains in an intensive care unit at a New Mexico hospital, reports KFOR.