Anonymous donor adds $10,000 for information into arson at Tony's Ice Cream
An anonymous donor has contributed $10,000 to the reward fund for any information that leads to the identity of the suspect related to a fire at Tony's Ice Cream in Gastonia, police say.
Gastonia firefighters responded to Tony's Ice Cream at 5:45 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 4. Firefighters found nothing showing from the outside of the business, but after making entry inside the store at 604 E. Franklin Blvd. they could see a fire had occurred inside.
Tony's was open and operating as usual a few hours later Thursday morning.
In a 1-minute surveillance video released by police a person can be seen walking quickly toward the business while wearing a hoodie and covering their face. The person then appears to break a window, put a flammable accelerant inside the building, which ignites. The person then flees the area.
A Tony’s Ice Cream employee who was working inside the business at the time of the arson was not injured, according to police.
Police ask that anyone with information regarding this arson or this suspect to call Crime Stoppers of Gaston County at 704-861-8000. Callers may remain anonymous. Crime Stoppers is already offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information that leads to an arrest in this case.
You can reach Kevin Ellis at 704-201-7016 or email him at kellis@gastongazette.com.
This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Reward up to $11,000 for information into Gastonia arson case
