Two people who set fire to a Maryland home and blocked the door with a mattress are charged with attempted murder: State Police

Lascelles David Beckford, 37, a resident of Somerset County, and Dante Jamar Stone, 34, of Salisbury, went to great lengths to set fire to the home of two people they knew, authorities said.

The incident was reported around 3:45 p.m. on Tuesday, August 13, in the 12000 block of Independence Court in Princess Anne.

Investigators believe Beckford and Stone set fire to the back door of the house with gasoline and then attempted to block the front door with a mattress before fleeing.

Officers spotted two people matching the description and found Beckford, still carrying the petrol can. He fled on foot before being arrested. A 14-inch machete was taken from his waistband.

Stone was later located during a search of the area by officers from the Somerset County Sheriff's Office and the Princess Anne Police Department and was arrested without incident.

No injuries were reported.

Beckford and Stone were charged with attempted first-degree murder and arson, as well as other offenses including burglary, reckless endangerment and malicious damage to property.

They are being held without bail at the Somerset County Detention Center. The fire was reported by the State Fire Marshal's office, which determined it was arson.

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