Suspect in Old Pink arson given home confinement at parents’ house
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The suspect in the Old Pink arson last June will now be allowed to be placed under home confinement at his parents’ home in Grand Island, the U.S. Attorney’s Office confirmed to WIVB News 4 on Thursday.
John Burns, 40, is the man accused of setting off the fire at the iconic Allen Street bar in the early morning hours of June 17, 2024.
In September, Burns was sent to an inpatient treatment facility to address physical and mental health issues. He returned to court in January to face charges related to the fire and has been in county jail. Conditions of his home confinement include GPS monitoring as well as substance abuse and mental health treatment.
According to an affidavit last year, Burns was approached by a patron confronting him about his behavior towards women prior to the arson. Burns allegedly attempted to fight the patron, who formerly worked security for the bar, before the patron knocked him over.
Following that encounter, Burns allegedly told the former guard, “I’ll be back motherf*****,” adding, “I’ll burn that b**** down” and “ain’t nobody going to have a job,” the affidavit states.
Video shows the building being burned down around two hours following the encounter. The affidavit said Burns appeared to start the fire with a propane plumbers torch.
Damages were estimated at $1.25 million. The bar, which had become beloved in the neighborhood, was torn down in the hours following the blaze. Fire dispatchers said on the scanner, “how do you put a price tag on the old Pink Flamingo?”
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Aidan Joly joined the News 4 staff in 2022. He is a graduate of Canisius College. You can see more of his work here.
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