Authorities say a California warehouse employee accused of starting a massive fire that destroyed a Kimberly-Clark paper products facility later compared himself to Luigi Mangione in a message to co-workers.
Chamel Abdulkarim, 29, has been charged with several felony and state arson counts after the blaze at the warehouse in Ontario, California, according to information shared by officials during a Friday press conference, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.
The fire caused nearly $600 million in property damage, making it one of the most costly incidents of its kind described in the source report. The warehouse was located in Ontario, about an hour outside Los Angeles.
Officials said the employee burned down the warehouse and then sent a message to co-workers that included the comparison to Luigi Mangione. The source did not provide additional details about the contents of the message or the motive behind the fire.
Abdulkarim’s case comes after the destruction of a major industrial facility tied to Kimberly-Clark, a company known for paper products. The report says the fire significantly damaged the warehouse and left behind a large financial loss.
At this stage, the available information centers on the criminal charges, the extent of the damage, and the post-fire message that investigators say Abdulkarim sent. The source does not include further information about court proceedings, a plea, or comments from the defendant.
The case has drawn attention because of both the scale of the destruction and the unusual comparison authorities say the suspect made afterward. With felony and state arson charges now filed, the matter will likely move forward through the California legal system.
No additional details were provided in the source about injuries, arrests beyond Abdulkarim, or any ongoing threat related to the incident.
