Homophobic arsonist found, named and charged.
The woman behind the arson of a Pride flag hung outside Little Prince bistro in NYC is facing hate crime charges.
Angelina Cando, 30, was arrested Tuesday and charged with arson and reckless endangerment, along with criminal mischief for writing ‘Jesus is King’ on the back of two NYPD squad cars – all as hate crimes.
Hate in SoHo: Last night this person set fire to the pride flag hanging outside Little Prince restaurant, causing the front of the restaurant to go up in flames. Anyone with info on this should call the Crime Stoppers tip line at 800-577-TIPS.
At 11AM we will re-hang the flag. pic.twitter.com/ydlXKGBJB1
— NYC Council Member Erik Bottcher (@ebottcher) February 20, 2023
The restaurant’s surveillance captured a white SUV arriving outside the venue at 1.30am on February 20, along with a woman, later identified as Angelina Cando, who got out and set the storefront’s Pride flag ablaze using a lighter.
Cando could then be seen jumping back into the passenger side of the car, which then speeds away.
It’s unclear whether the driver of the vehicle will also face charges.
The fire led to a temporary evacuation of the apartments above the Prince Street restaurant. Fortunately, the venue was closed at the time and no one was injured by the fire, police confirmed.
“Can’t imagine someone would have that much hate to do something like this,” restaurant customer Charlotte Wynn told ABC7. “Especially not knowing if it could physically hurt someone as well.”
The restaurant owner said an employee was inside the restaurant at the time of the incident and quickly called 911.
“To be a part of it, and to witness it, and to work here and to have that happen, like this is my job,” the employee said. “This is where I make money and this is also where I have a home. So to have that taken away, I’m confused and I’m hurt, and I don’t know how to feel about it.”
The morning after a bigot set fire to the pride flag outside Little Prince restaurant in SoHo, we raised a new flag.
Our community will not be intimidated. https://t.co/X9T4KmGjom pic.twitter.com/f36rNudqx0
— NYC Council Member Erik Bottcher (@ebottcher) February 20, 2023
Update on woman who set fire to a pride flag 🏳️🌈 outside a NYC restaurant https://t.co/M7iXJ7VD1o
— Sasha Minny (@SashaMinny2005) February 23, 2023