Image 1 of 6 ▼ (Via NYPD)

Police are looking for a man who apparently tried to blow up a gas station on Staten Island and may have fried himself in the process.

The NYPD release shocking security camera video footage from a BP gas station at 1705 Richmond Avenue that shows a man filling a portable fuel can with gasoline at about 1:50 a.m. Monday, July 30.

The video shows the man spraying gas around the pump, lighting a piece of paper on fire, and then placing the flaming paper on the spilled gasoline.

The fuel, of course, quickly ignites and bright flames engulf the man in less than a second, the video shows. The gas station's fire-suppression system is seen kicking in and extinguishing the flames.

The arsonist fled the scene, police said.


A 21-year-old man who was nearby when the fire started suffered internal injuries. He is at Richmond University Medical Center in serious but stable condition, the NYPD said.

The video shows the arsonist wearing a light-colored long-sleeved shirt, dark-colored shorts, and dark-colored slippers, police said. He arrived at the gas station inside of a blue minivan.

Cops said he "fled the scene in an unknown direction."

If you recognize the man or have any other information, you can contact the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 800-577-TIPS (8477) for English or 888-57-PISTA (74782) for Spanish.