Clarion County man sets himself on fire, dies

**HiredGoon** · March 19th, 2009, 04:25 PM

Clarion area man sets himself on fire, dies
Thursday, March 19, 2009
By Jim McKinnon, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A Clarion County man died of severe burns today, a day after he set himself on fire over a rift with a former girlfriend, state police said.

Troopers had confronted the man, identified as Levi Shawn Mohney, 24, while he was armed with a soft drink bottle containing an accelerant in one hand and a cigarette lighter in the other.

He was standing inside the mobile home of his former girlfriend, Parry Rae Ferris, 34, of Pine Street Extension in Strattonville.

Three troopers had warned Mr. Mohney that if he did not surrender they would zap him with a Taser, said state police Maj. Terry Seilhamer.

The police commander said the suspect responded, "If you tase me, I'm going to set myself on fire."

The troopers launched a Taser charge, and the suspect ignited himself, Maj. Seilhamer said.

Police had been called to the residence three times yesterday for reports of burglaries.

The suspect initially stole a television.

He returned later accosted Ms. Ferris, striking her before he stole several more items.

Ms. Ferris again summoned police, but Mr. Mohney fled before troopers arrived, and Ms. Ferris took their advice and left the residence until her ex-boyfriend could be apprehended.

While she was away, neighbors called to report Mr. Mohney had returned and, again, he broke into the trailer.

Troopers found him inside the residence, refusing to come out. So, they forced their way inside for a face-to-face stand-off.

When Mr. Mohney set himself on fire, the flames began to spread in that room, and he bolted past the troopers and ran outside.

He made it some distance on foot before he fell, or was knocked to the ground, where the troopers rolled him around until the fire went out.

They also retrieved fire extinguishers and put out the flames in the trailer while an ambulance was on the way.

Mr. Mohney was taken to the Birmingham Trauma and Burn Center at UPMC Mercy, where he died today.

Maj. Seilhamer said state police still are investigating to confirm that Mr. Mohney started the fire with his lighter, and that it was not caused by the troopers' use of the Taser.

Investigators also will thoroughly examine what is left of Mr. Mohney's clothing for the presence of an accelerant.

**camper** · March 19th, 2009, 05:22 PM

Was this a black assault lighter?

camper

**Swarner793** · March 19th, 2009, 06:11 PM

Originally Posted by camper

Was this a black assault lighter?

camper

Why's it gotta be black?j/k

This goes to show that a motivated stupid person can be dangerous to more than just himself.

Anybody else think the Taser was the source of ignition

Which brings up another great point..if you are seeking attention, and covered with a combustable liquid, you probably do not want a callous and jaded government employee at the other end with the detonator

I'm just sayin'!

Be safe (and outlaw combustible stuff too).

Scott