GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Court documents show that the two teens arrested in connection with a Green Bay apartment fire this week allegedly set the blaze to quote, "send a message" to a rival gang member.
18-year-old Jesse Jones and 17-year-old Jordan Gardner are both charged with arson, burglary and endangering safety. Almost $700,000 in damage was done to the Sun and Sand Apartments on Danz Avenue.
According to the criminal complaint, the teens confessed to setting the fires. Gardner and Jones told investigators they went into the basement of the apartment building, then found spray cans marked “flammable.”
They told investigators they used a lighter to start a soaked rag on fire. Then, they both ran out of the building.
Court documents also show Gardner and Jones were arrested Thursday morning for stealing a PlayStation system and two laptops from an apartment on Cherry Street in Green Bay.
Investigators later connected the two to the surveillance video at the Danz street apartment building.
“This defendant confessed, stating that motive was gang retaliation. The state’s case is strong due to his confession,” said Kristen Bohnert, a Brown County Assistant District Attorney, per FOX 11.
Gardner and Jones are behind bars on $100,000 cash bonds.