News Releases
May 4, 2021: Man Charged with Setting Devastating San Gabriel Mission Fire
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Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced today a man was charged with setting a fire that caused catastrophic damage to the San Gabriel Mission last summer.
“The loss to the mission was in the millions of dollars but the loss to the community is immeasurable,” District Attorney Gascón said.
John David Corey aka Joker (dob 7/13/63) faces two felony counts of arson of an inhabited structure and one count each of arson during a state of emergency, first-degree residential burglary and possession of flammable material.
Case BA495218 was filed for warrant. A date for arraignment is yet to be determined.
On July 11, 2020, Corey is charged with breaking into the historic mission and starting the fire which spread to the roof and along the length of the church.
The case remains under investigation by the San Gabriel Fire Department.
