BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – The 40-year-old Buffalo man arrested and charged with setting fire to the Old Pink in June had threatened to burn the building down during an altercation at the bar earlier that night, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said Friday.
The fire engulfed the popular bar in the early morning hours of June 17 and caused the Allentown landmark to be demolished . Charges against John W. Burns for his alleged role in the arson carry a minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum of 20.
Burns was confronted at the bar that evening about his behavior toward women by a patron formerly contracted to work security for the Old Pink, according to an affidavit filed by Special Agent Robert Grunder of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Burns responded by attempting to fight the former security guard, according to the document, and the ex-guard knocked Burns over by slapping him.
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. In text messages obtained by the ATF, Burns allegedly referenced the fire and stated to a friend that he was going “guerrilla mode.”