Authorities in Casa Grande are searching for a suspect connected to a devastating fire that caused significant damage to St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in October.
On Saturday, the Casa Grande Police Department shared surveillance footage on Facebook depicting an individual wearing a grey hoodie. This person is believed to be responsible for the fire, which occurred near 2nd and Marshall streets, off Jimmie Kerr Boulevard. Officials have not yet released any additional details about the suspect.
The incident has left the local community shocked and searching for answers.
“Everyone was asking, ‘How could someone do this to a church?’” Father Ariel Lustan, who has led the church for over ten years. “I felt the same way.”
The church, built in 1960, has long been a spiritual cornerstone for thousands of parishioners. Father Lustan noted that nothing of this magnitude has ever occurred despite occasional vandalism and theft over the years.
“We don’t know who might harbor ill feelings towards us or why someone would inflict such damage,” he said. “It’s heartbreaking, especially because this is a sacred place. The act itself is both a crime and a moral wrongdoing.”
The fire broke out shortly after midnight on October 18. Fire crews arrived to find flames consuming a storage shed. Smoke and fire spread to multiple areas inside the church, including the electronic and music sections, offices, hallway, storage areas, and pews.
Despite the extensive damage, the church’s activities have continued in the adjacent community center. “Our faith is stronger than this tragedy,” Father Lustan affirmed. “We have not stopped our public worship.”
Discussions about the future of the building are ongoing, with leaders weighing the options of restoration versus rebuilding entirely.
Casa Grande Police are working closely with the Casa Grande Fire Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to investigate the incident. Meanwhile, the community awaits answers and justice for their place of worship.
Anyone with information about the suspect or the incident is urged to contact the Casa Grande Police Department.