Suspect taken into custody after two separate arson-style attacks
New Orleans police announced Monday that a man has been arrested on attempted murder charges after two men were deliberately set on fire in separate incidents in the Seventh Ward earlier this month.
Authorities said Allen Harris, 32, is accused of dousing victims with a flammable liquid and igniting them in attacks that occurred Aug. 3 and Aug. 8. The New Orleans Police Department said both victims sustained serious burns.
How the incidents unfolded
The NOPD reported the first attack occurred in the 1900 block of North Roman Street, where officers say Harris targeted a man and set him aflame. The second alleged attack, on Aug. 8, took place in the 1600 block of Elysian Fields Avenue, and authorities said it followed a similar pattern.
| Date | Location | Reported detail |
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 3, 2026 | 1900 block, North Roman St. | Victim doused with flammable liquid and set on fire |
| Aug. 8, 2026 | 1600 block, Elysian Fields Ave. | Similar attack; surveillance video places suspect at nearby gas station |
Surveillance footage from a gas station on Elysian Fields shows a man identified by police as Harris inside the store on Aug. 8. The store’s manager told reporters the footage later captured one of the victims entering the store about 10 minutes after the man who appears burned on camera.
“It was, you know, horrific. I was scared as well. I’m having goosebumps still. So he just walked in fully burned. His skin was falling off as per the video that I saw. I don’t know how can anyone do something for someone like that,”
The comment came from the store manager describing the victim’s condition on video.
Investigation, arrest and charges
Fifth District officers and federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives located Harris in the 2400 block of Pauger Street and arrested him late Friday, the police said. The New Orleans Fire Department also provided a fire investigator to assist the probe.
Harris was booked on attempted murder charges and his bond was set Sunday at $750,000. Police described both incidents as deliberate and said the victims suffered serious burn injuries.
Community reaction and defendant’s record
Neighbors expressed shock and alarm over the attacks in a neighborhood where residents often cite concerns about violent crime. One nearby resident, Cornell Richardson, characterized the initial attack as “devilish.”
“Nobody should be treated that way,”
Richardson said, reflecting the sentiment of others who spoke with reporters.
Court records reviewed by local outlets show Harris has at least a dozen previous arrests in Orleans Parish on a range of charges, including aggravated burglary, possession of firearms by a felon, second-degree battery, theft, domestic abuse battery, illegal carrying of a weapon, criminal trespass, simple battery and multiple narcotics offenses.
- Two incidents in the Seventh Ward on Aug. 3 and Aug. 8 left victims with serious burns.
- Surveillance video placed the suspect at a gas station near the second attack.
- Arrest made with help from ATF agents and the NOPD Fifth District; bond set at $750,000.
Prosecutors will determine whether to bring additional charges as the investigation continues and as any victims’ medical conditions and forensic evidence are further evaluated. The NOPD said its investigation remains active and anyone with information related to the incidents is asked to contact police.
The arrests and allegations underscore ongoing concerns about violent incidents in some New Orleans neighborhoods. Residents and community leaders say they expect law enforcement to provide updates as the case proceeds through the criminal justice system.
