WASHINGTON –Laketia Hazelwood, 33, of Washington, D.C., has been sentenced to a four-year prison term for an arson that took place in June 2019 at Pennsylvania House, a 43-unit apartment building in Southeast Washington.
According to the government’s evidence, on June 17, 2019, around 10 p.m., Hazelwood poured gasoline into a plastic trash can liner and carried it into the lobby of Pennsylvania House, in the 3900 block of Pennsylvania Avenue SE. There, she tossed the gasoline-filled bag onto the lobby floor and threw a series of matches onto it, eventually igniting a large fire. The flames consumed much of the lobby area and caused extensive damage before being extinguished by members of the D.C. Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services.
Surveillance footage of Hazelwood’s actions was posted publicly.
Hazelwood pleaded guilty in May 2021 to one count of transporting an explosive with intent to damage property. She was sentenced on Sept. 2, 2021. Following her prison term, she will be placed on one year of supervised release.
Officials didn’t detail a possible motive.
