Chattanooga fire investigators believe a duplex at 1602 E. 17th St. was firebombed this morning, said department spokesman Bruce Garner.

Capt. James Whitmire with the Fire Investigation Division said evidence obtained on the scene in the Highland Park area indicates that a container with some sort of flammable liquid was thrown on the back porch of the duplex.

No one was reportedly home at the time, he said, but the fire burned up the back bedroom and caused about $15,000 in damage.

Capt. Whitmire said fire investigators also are looking at other car fires that occurred in the same general area within an hour or two of each other in the East Lake neighborhood, including one in the 2100 block of East 27th Street.

Officials are investigating whether the series of events — which appear to have begun after 22-year-old LaTony Johnson was stabbed and killed early this morning — is linked and related to gang violence, said Chattanooga Police Department spokeswoman Sgt. Jerri Weary.

No physical evidence yet discovered links the suspected firebombing to the vehicle fires or to the stabbing, Mr. Garner said.

Lt. Henry McElvain is the lead investigator on the duplex fire, said Mr. Garner said.

Capt. Whitmire said he requested assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which he said is standard protocol in such incidents. The ATF is bringing in an “arson dog” this afternoon from Nashville to assist with the investigation, Mr. Garner said.

For complete coverage, read tomorrow’s Chattanooga Times Free Press.

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