Lake Worth Man Set on Fire; Two Arrested

A man was lit on fire in an alley in Lake Worth on Tuesday night. According to the Palm Beach Sheriff's Office, two men splashed a liquid on the victim and threw a flame on him, setting his face and upper torso ablaze.

Police say they responded to the report in the alley in the 300 block of Dixie Highway in Lake Worth. When deputies arrived, they found the victim with severe burns to his upper torso and face and had him transported to St. Mary's Hospital in West Palm Beach.

Witnesses told police that around 9 p.m. Tuesday, two Hispanic men who where waiting behind a fence at 314 N. H St., across from 301 N. Dixie Highway. They then ambushed the man with what appears to have been some kind of flammable liquid before throwing a flame on him. 

After searching the area with the description given by witnesses, deputies were able to track down and arrest Ervin Miranda-Hernandez, 23, and Guillermo Alonso, 22.

Police say Hernandez is the man who lit the victim on fire, while Alonso aided him. Police also noted that Alonso had visible marks on his face from having been in a fight with the victim on Sunday. Though no motivation has yet been released, the events are likely connected. 


Hernandez and Alonso were interviewed at VCD and, based on statements of the witnesses, physical evidence, and interviews with the suspects, both were charged with attempted first-degree murder, PBSO says.

PBSO also tells New Times that the victim has been transferred to Jackson Memorial Hospital burn unit in Miami, where he is in critical condition.

The identity of the victim has not been released.