OLATHE, Kan. (AP) - A northeast Kansas man has been found guilty of setting a house fire and trying to kill emergency personnel who pulled him from the burning building.
The Kansas City Star reports (https://bit.ly/1fM1M1D ) a Johnson County jury on Friday convicted 59-year-old William J. Outhet Jr. of arson and attempted first-degree murder.
Police and firefighters reported hearing several loud booming sounds when they arrived at Outhet’s Olathe (oh-LAY’-thuh) home on Feb. 1, 2013. Prosecutors later charged Outhet with firing shots as the responders arrived.
No emergency responders were injured, but firefighters found Outhet unconscious inside the home with a shotgun across his chest. Investigators also said the fire had been intentionally set and that other firearms were positioned around the house.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 1.
___
Information from: The Kansas City Star, https://www.kcstar.com
Please read our comment policy before commenting.