Mother's warning helps lead to federal arson arrest in Florida Chabad center fire

A man accused of setting fire to a Chabad Jewish Center in Punta Gorda, Florida, has been arrested on a federal arson charge after his mother told a relative she feared he was responsible, prosecutors said Thursday. The arson occurred late Friday, a few days before the Jewish New Year, at a center that includes both a Hebrew school and a community synagogue.

Blake Hoover faces a federal arson charge in the blaze at the Chabad Jewish Center in Punta Gorda, according to a statement from the U.S. attorney’s office. Prosecutors said Hoover’s aunt contacted the Punta Gorda Police Department after Hoover’s mother told her she feared he was responsible for the fire. The criminal complaint describes a history in which Hoover’s mother said he hated Jews and gay people, and that his hatred had grown more pronounced in recent years. Investigators said Hoover had recently told his mother that he planned to burn down the center, which she learned of after discovering a gas can missing when he left the house.

On the night of the arson, the mother called Hoover and asked him not to burn anything down after she discovered the missing gas can, the complaint said. Fire investigators believe Hoover entered the center by breaking a back window and started the fire by using gasoline on flammable items inside. Authorities also found the letter “J” spray-painted on the sidewalk outside the center and on a concrete wall on the building’s side, according to the complaint. The mom is quoted in the criminal filing as noting that Hoover often refers to Jews as “Js.” Investigators found a gas can and a black spray-paint can during a search of Hoover’s home, the complaint said.

Court records listed no attorney for Hoover, and an online database showed he remained in jail Thursday morning.

The case was cited by federal prosecutors as an example of how domestic threats to religious centers are treated with federal charges when arson or other violent acts are involved. The fire occurred at a time when the community was preparing for the Jewish New Year, underscoring the potential impact on worshippers and students at the center. The U.S. attorney’s office did not provide additional details about potential motive beyond the statements attributed to Hoover’s mother and the findings in the criminal complaint, which describe the alleged behavior and the evidence recovered during the investigation.

Officials did not indicate whether additional charges would be pursued or whether Hoover would face future court appearances in connection with the case. The investigation continues as prosecutors review the material collected at the scene and at Hoover’s residence, including the spray paint and gas can found during the search, which are referenced in the complaint as part of the evidence tying Hoover to the incident.

The Punta Gorda center has served the local Jewish community for years, providing religious services, education, and community programming. The arson investigation is ongoing, and authorities have urged anyone with information to contact local law enforcement.