Woman Says Shopper Doused Her with Gas, Tried to Set Her on Fire

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A 42-year-old Troy woman faces assault charges after she allegedly doused another woman’s shoes with gasoline and tried to light them on fire during an argument.

Troy police said in a news release that the victim was sitting in her car about 4 p.m. Friday when her vehicle was struck by a shopping cart in a Walmart parking lot at 2001 West Maple. She stepped out of her car and asked a woman nearby if she was responsible. The woman admitted it had been her cart, according to the report.

Police said the two women got into a heated argument and the suspect grabbed a gas can from her vehicle and threw gasoline on her, then looked for a lighter.

“The victim was fearful of being set on fire and knocked the gas can off the woman’s car,” police said. “The subject ... picked up the gas can and threw it at the victim, striking her in the back.”

The two women then got into a physical fight in the parking lot and were pulled apart by bystanders, police said.

Independent witnesses confirmed that the suspect threw gasoline on the victim and then threw the gas can at her, according to the report.

The suspect, whose name hasn’t been released, was arrested and charged with assault with intent to maim, according to the report.

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