BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C.—A Berkeley County firefighter accused of setting fire to the Walgreens in Moncks Corner has now been charged with doing the same to a church in the Macedonia community. The two fires occurred just days apart from one another.
Randy Wayne Cannon, 18, has been charged with arson—second degree, a felony which carries three to 25-year sentence in prison. He was also previously charged with the same offense following a fire at a Walgreens Wednesday on Highway 52.
On January 20th, a fire started in the rear of the Macedonia Church of God Prophecy. After deeming it suspicious, the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office called in arson investigators with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.
“It was determined that the fire was intentionally set by means of an open flame, available materials and the intentional application of an ignitable liquid,” read SLED’s arrest affidavit.
Authorities stated that prior to the church fire, an eyewitness observed a whit in color Toyota pickup with a tool box in the bed of the truck. The truck was parked at the scene and a white male was spotted near the vehicle.
Agents later learned that Cannon owns the same exact vehicle and that his physical appearance matched the description provided by witnesses.
Sled arson investigators stated that Cannon was the first Macedonia Rural Volunteer Fire Department firefighter to arrive on scene. Deputies eventually interviewed him at the time of the initial fire call.
During the early morning hours of January 21st, Cannon was called to the scene and interviewed by SLED agents.
“The defendant revealed that he observed two individuals behind the church attempting to gain entry into the rear door,” read the affidavit.
Cannon reportedly told SLED agents that the two individuals then turned and ran on foot towards the wooded area behind and to the left of the church. In his initial interview with the BCSO, the defendant did not provide any information about these two unknown male subjects, according to SLED.
“The defendant’s statement did not match the original complainant that discovered the fire, nor the second concerned citizen that observed the fire,” read the affidavit.
Cannon is said to have told both his fire chief and deputy fire chief that he observed a gasoline container on the ground in the area of fire origin and that it was burning and caused the fire to spread to the rear of the church.
However, other witnesses discredit this story.
“The two individuals who were attempting to extinguish the fire with a garden hose did not see any type of gasoline container. Both individuals were standing in close proximity to where the gasoline containers were later found by investigators.”
Cannon has been booked into the Hill Finklea Detention Center. The case will be prosecuted by the Ninth Circuit Solicitor’s Office.
Prior Story:
- Moncks Corner Firefighter Charged With Setting Walgreens Fire
- THS student, junior firefighter expelled after bringing box cutter to school
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