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Citing court documents,CBS Newsreports 75-year-old Joseph Kromelis _ who is known in the Chicago area as the “Walking Man” for his tendency to walk the city, regardless of the weather — was sleeping on a sidewalk, when 27-year-old Joseph Guardia allegedly doused him in lighter fluid and set him on fire a little before 3:00 a.m. on Wednesday.
According to the documents, surveillance video allegedly showed Guardia carrying a cup and approaching the victim. After appearing to visually confirm there was no traffic or other people in the area, Guardia allegedly poured the liquid from the cup onto a sleeping Kromelis before setting him on fire, per the document.
“In 16 years of prosecuting cases, I’ve never seen a video so horrific,” Hanichak said, per the station.
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Police were able to track down and interview Guardia, who allegedly identified himself as the person in the surveillance footage, the document states.
He allegedly claimed he “found the McDonalds cup full of gasoline on top of some garbage,” according to the documents. He allegedly told investigators that because he was an “angry person,” he was “going to burn some trash.”
Despite the victim’s feet and head being reportedly exposed, Hanichak said, “The defendant claimed he didn’t know a person was there.”
Hanichak also said the victim — who appeared in a 2006 documentary titledThe Walking Dude, a Dudementary— did not know the man who allegedly set him on fire.
“He targeted the most vulnerable person possible,” said Hanichak.
Court documents state Kromelis is currently sedated and suffers from “non-survivable” burns to more than half of his body. He is not expected to recover, and in addition to the charge against Guardia of aggravated arson, the initial charge of attempted first-degree murder will likely be upgraded.
“The offenses charged here today … are exceptionally brutal and heinous,” Judge Charles Beach said before denying Guardia bail, per theChicago Sun-Times. “The random and callous nature of your attack is horrifying.”
Guardia retained a public defense attorney, according to the outlet. It wasn’t immediately clear if he entered a plea.
Guardia’s next court date is June 6.
source: people.com
