Car Set On Fire-Intentionally Slams Into Defense Contractor Building
San Diego CA April 28 2019
A vehicle, intentionally drove into a U.S. defense contractor’s building in the overnight hours on Wednesday according to federal law enforcement.
The man suspected of setting fire to a stolen car he intentionally crashed into a U.S. defense contractor building in Kearny Mesa has been arrested.
The sedan, a reported-stolen Toyota Prius with mismatched plates, slammed into the Raytheon Integrated Defense building on Balboa Avenue near Kearny Villa Road and burst into flames at about 2:30 a.m.
A security officer called 911 and firefighters with San Diego Fire-Rescue quickly knocked down the fire before flames could spread to the building.
When law enforcement arrived, the driver was nowhere to be found, San Diego Fire-Rescue Batt. Chief Mike McBride said.
Later Wednesday afternoon, police and federal agents found and arrested a suspect, identified as 36-year-old Daniel Mackinnon, and charged him with arson.
“We don’t know exactly the motive behind what’s going on here but we know it was an intentional act and it seems as though they made an attempt to gain access to the building or smashing into the building causing damage,” McBride said.
Hours later, an FBI tactical team surrounded Mackinnon’s City Heights home and deployed flashbangs before breaching the door and searching inside.
A plywood board was placed over Mackinnon’s front door with a sign notifying the public that the FBI had searched it.
According to the company’s website, Raytheon is a defense contractor that specializes in civil government and cybersecurity solutions, including missile defense and electronic warfare.
Investigators are looking through video surveillance of the scene.
Both the San Diego Police Department and SDFD are working on the investigation. A joint Metro-Arson Strike Team (MAST) team will be the lead investigating agency.
No injuries were reported and authorities said that they have no further comments.
