The arson which occurred at 152 Columbia Avenue on Sunday, December 1, 2013 is being investigated as an attempt murder/suicide.
At about 5:35am, the ex-husband of a female (who once resided at that location with the male) attended the address, applied an accelerant and set fire to the house. Exterior doors at the rear and side of the house were targeted as points of origin and the structure sustained considerable damage. The female who is believed to have been a primary target of the attack was not in the home at the time, but several of her family members were. One of the occupants became aware of the fire and alerted the others, who ranged in ages from 26 to 68 years. All were able to escape. The male fled the scene in a silver Chrysler PT Cruiser, driving a short distance before turning around and driving directly at two of the occupants of the home in an apparent attempt to strike them. The male then lost control of the car and fled on foot.
A neighbour called 911. London Fire Services responded to the fire. Police attended and tracked the male with a police service dog, which led officers to the backyard of a home on Woodward Avenue. There, they found the male dead of an apparent suicide. An autopsy is taking place at London Health Sciences Centre today to assist in the confirmation of manner and cause of death.
A search of the male’s car yielded a number of incendiary devices and accelerants. Spent fireworks were also found at the scene. Images captured on a privately owned security system in the area assisted with the investigation.
There are no suspects outstanding, and although there is currently no prospect of criminal charges being laid against anyone in relation to the incident, investigators from the Major Crime Section continue to investigate the circumstances in order to determine the extent of criminal offences committed by the deceased. Additional information may follow later in the investigation.
Investigators are still in the process of notifying next-of-kin, who reside outside Canada. For this reason, and because identifying the deceased may lead to the identification of the surviving victim of domestic abuse and her family, the London Police Service will provide no further information as to the identities of the persons involved.