Tijuana Municipal Police arrested a homeless man on Wednesday morning after he allegedly set fire to a mechanic shop in the Xochimilco Solidaridad neighborhood, destroying or damaging six vehicles and spreading flames to a nearby structure.
The suspect, identified as Juan Carlos “N,” was detained after two separate victims pointed him out to officers. According to police, the fire broke out at the mechanic shop and quickly engulfed multiple vehicles inside. Some of the cars were completely destroyed.
Fire Spreads Beyond the Shop
The blaze was not contained to the mechanic shop alone. Flames spread to a neighboring structure that was being used as a chicken coop, causing additional property damage. Authorities have not released an estimate of total losses from the fire.
Xochimilco Solidaridad is a residential neighborhood in Tijuana’s eastern urban sprawl, an area that includes a mix of small businesses, homes, and informal structures. Mechanic shops are common throughout Tijuana’s neighborhoods, often operating in open-air lots or converted garages where vehicles and flammable materials sit in close proximity.
Two Victims Identify the Suspect
The arrest came after two people affected by the fire independently identified Juan Carlos “N” as the person responsible. Under Mexican privacy law, authorities withhold suspects’ full surnames at the initial arrest stage, replacing them with the letter “N.”
Tijuana has faced persistent challenges with fires linked to homeless encampments and individuals living on the streets, particularly in densely built neighborhoods where structures are close together. The city’s fire department, Bomberos de Tijuana, responds to hundreds of structural fires each year.
Police turned the suspect over to the relevant authorities for prosecution. No injuries were reported in connection with the fire. The investigation remains open as officials assess the full extent of the damage to the shop, the vehicles, and the adjacent property.
This story was first reported by Jornada BC.