Man accused of yelling ‘anti-ICE’ comments and throwing 2 Molotov cocktails at DTLA federal building
A man was arrested on Monday for allegedly throwing two Molotov cocktails at a federal building in downtown Los Angeles, authorities said.
The incident happened just after 8:30 a.m. at the building at 300 N. Los Angeles St.
The U.S. Department of Justice says 54-year-old Jose Francisco Jovel was motivated by anti-immigration enforcement sentiment. He allegedly yelled “anti-ICE comments” as he threw the Molotov cocktails at officers who were guarding the building.
New images show the moment he allegedly threw them at the building.
Federal officers arrested him immediately and said he had five more devices and lighter fluid in his possession.
“The suspect was taken into custody and stated that he wanted to blow up the building and ‘spray down’ all the officers while making more derogatory comments about ICE officers,” read a statement from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The bottles were not lit, and no injuries were reported.
Jovel reportedly described his actions as a “terrorist attack.”
DHS said Jovel also had four knives and a Leatherman tool in his possession at the time of his arrest.
Investigators said earlier in the morning, Jovel set his Koreatown apartment on fire after receiving an eviction notice.
He is expected to make his first court appearance on Wednesday.
DHS says the suspect has an extensive criminal history that spans almost four decades, including an attempted murder charge in 1987, an armed robbery charge in 1991 and a charge of annoying or molesting a victim under 18 in 2007.
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass released the following statement:
“I am deeply alarmed by the incident that occurred at the Federal Building in Downtown. This type of behavior is absolutely unconscionable. Thank you to our LAPD officers and law enforcement partners for their intervention and response. I am grateful that no one was injured.”
