Fire officials are investigating a car that was torched Friday night in Grantville.
The car fire started just before 7:30 p.m. in a shopping center parking lot in the 10400-block of Friars Rd.
Police say witnesses report seeing a maroon minivan drive by before the fire started.
“Initial reports from witnesses on the scene is that a Hispanic male pulled up in a minivan and possibly threw some kind of incendiary device into the car, causing it to explode,” said Lt. Paul Rorrison with the San Diego Police Department.
Suzie Steiner was inside a nearby business when it happened.
“It was just a big bang and like popping noises, and there were sparks of fire coming from the car,” Steiner described.
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After firefighters extinguished the flames, all that was left was a charred interior. Rorrison says the car is a total loss.
The parking lot was full of cars at the time of the fire. Police officers responded to the scene for crowd control.
“It was chaotic,” Steiner said. “There were a lot of people around.”
Rorrison said the couple who owns the car doesn’t know who would have set their vehicle on fire.
“Obviously they’re very upset,” he said.
“Right now, they’re cooperating with investigators.”
No one was injured, according to officials. Fire investigators are interviewing witnesses and looking for any video of the fire.
Check back for updates on this developing story.
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