(WXYZ) — The U.S. Marshals need your help tracking down a man they say set a gas station on fire and nearly killed the clerk inside.
A gas station in a busy west side neighborhood went up in flames, and police say 31-year-old Christopher Frazier's now being charged with attempted murder and arson.
"As soon as he comes in he starts spilling something on the floor," said Corporal Kenneth Johnson.
At first the clerk thought it was bizarre.
"It seems like he’s about to walk out but then he turns around," Johnson said. "He’s trying to burn the building down - but what about the gas next to it - this could have easily been a huge disaster for everybody."
Police say Frazier, the man responsible, is a four-time convicted felon.
"He was there to either burn this building down or kill this victim," said Assistant Chief Aaron Garcia.
An accelerant being thrown directly at the glass the clerk was sitting behind – just before the spark was lit. Fortunately, he was able to escape out of a back door. But as the flames grew and smoke filled the gas station, outside surveillance video showed Frazier wasn't done yet.
"He opens the door again, and he throws in more accelerant," Johnson said.
The incident happened in November, but the hunt continues for Christopher Frazier – now more than ever, U.S. Marshals say.
"This could have caused loss of life like no other," said Garcia.
Frazier is about 6-feet tall, around 165 pounds with ties to Detroit.
"We have no idea where he is, he’s a Detroiter, he has ties to the east side and the west side of Detroit," said Garcia.
Police say Frazier may have left Deroit, but the burned out gas station remains abandoned.
"It’s still plaguing the city and the citizens because there’s nothing here - a place that was a business is now nothing," Garcia said.
As always, there's a cash reward for any information leading to Frazier's arrest. You can call the U.S. Marshals anytime at (313) 234-5656.
