Three Teenagers Charged with Arson at Vacant McDonald's

Boston Fire Department responded to a fire at 11:08 p.m. on March 8 at 1663 Veterans of Foreign Wars Parkway.

The building was a vacant McDonald’s. Fire fighters battled a heavy fire, which the chief estimated caused $100,000 in damage. No injuries were reported. 

According to CBS Boston, Boston police officers found fresh footprints leading away from the building from the open back door. Police followed the tracks to the Charles River. Boston, Dedham and State police then found three teenagers climbing out of the river.

Dedham Police caught 19-year-old James McManus of West Roxbury behind the Irish Ale House. McManus was wearing wet clothes and was taken to Faulkner Hospital.

Officers caught Denis Florez, 18, of Roslindale near by. He too was wearing wet clothes and was taken to Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

Police said that Mark Collins, 18, of West Roxbury showed up at the scene barefoot wearing wet clothing.  Collins was taken to Faulkner Hospital.

Collins reportedly told officers that the three youths had been in the vacant McDonald’s and accidentally started the fire.

Collins and Florez were arrested and charged with arson and breaking and entering. McManus was issued a summons to court on the same charges.

The Boston Fire Department estimated that the fire caused around $100,000 in damage.