A man accused of throwing multiple Molotov cocktails into a childhood friend's home in Boston's Mattapan neighborhood appeared in court Wednesday, but the motive behind the violent incident remains unclear.
The incident occurred at 27 West Main St. on Tuesday, Boston police said.
The homeowner, Tanea Smith, was on Facebook Live outside her home when she heard an explosion.
The man, later identified as 30-year-old Ladarrell Murchison, had thrown a makeshift Molotov cocktail through Smith's front window, causing a small fire and leaving a lot of damage. He then broke her back door window by using a shovel and threw a shopping bag containing two more incendiary devices into the kitchen, police said.
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Two plastic bottles containing an accelerant were recovered, according to authorities.
Murchison, who Smith said was her childhood friend, confronted her outside the home before taking off. Prosecutors said Murchison went from throwing explosives to hurling expletives at his friend.
"I open the door, and he's like, 'Oh yeah, you think I'm playing with you?'" Smith said. "I'm like, 'Yeah,' because what the hell is that? It didn't make any sense."
He was tracked down and arrested by police at his home about three blocks away. In the police report, he denied ever going to Smith's home. However, he allegedly told police that he disapproved of his friend's recent behavior online.
Smith said she has no idea why Murchison did it.
John Himmelstein, Murchison's lawyer, would not address a motive Wednesday, saying only that his client suffers from mental illness and needs help.
"He should not remain incarcerated," Himmelstein said. "He needs to be home with his mother, helping her and mandated to receive the treatment he needs."
Murchison is charged with arson of a dwelling house, attempted arson of a dwelling house, breaking and entering daytime for a felony and placing/throwing explosives, police said.
Murchison was arraigned Wednesday in West Roxbury District Court and the judge ordered him held until his next hearing Monday afternoon.
His family did not want to comment after hte arraignment.
