I'm thinking he might've seen somebody holding a gas can on the side of the road needing a ride to fuel up a vehicle as a ruse.  Instead the intent was to torch something and hurt someone.  This would be a ruse that I would've fallen victim to myself. It's a scary world out there nowadays. I hate to think the worst because I want to think that people are good.  I suspect that he thought someone needed help but all they wanted to do was to hurt because they are so hateful of  how society has managed to treat them. If it ends up that drug addicts are responsible for this travesty I hope that society eventually comes to treat drug addiction as an illness instead of a criminal activity.  Perhaps those that are afflicted will seek medical help instead of preying on innocent victims for meeting their needs.