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Norfolk man caught and charged with setting car on fire, damaging nearby barber shop

Posted at 2:35 PM, Dec 10, 2018
and last updated 2018-12-10 18:56:04-05

NORFOLK, Va. - A Norfolk man was arrested Friday, charged with two separate arson offenses from an October fire.

Zakaria El Hajjami

29-year-old Zakaria El Hajjami was scheduled to be arraigned in a Norfolk courtroom Monday morning, facing two felonies. The case was continued, but El Hajjami remains in custody.

Court records and a 911 call indicate a BMW SUV was found engulfed in flames along Azalea Garden Road, close to Robin Hood Road. The car was parked at a shopping plaza where Lil Angel Unisex Barber Shop was located. The shop was also destroyed by the flames that spread from the car, to the building.

The damage to the building is still visible as the business remains closed. News 3 spoke to owner, Fernando Roman, who said they plan to reopen in a new location within the next few weeks.

Around 6 a.m., on October 25 firefighters responded to the call for a vehicle fire, but were unable to locate anyone in the area who knew about the car. As crew fought the blaze that had spread to the building, as investigator was called to the scene. In the communication with dispatch it was discovered that the car, now on fire, had been reported stolen.

Fire officials filed charges against El Hajjami. He will be back in court for another hearing on January 31.