WE’RE LEARNING MORE ABOUT WHAT CAUSED A FIRE AND WATER DAMAGE AT THE NATIONAL HISPANIC CULTURAL CENTER EARLIER THIS MONTH. A SECURITY GUARD, 26 YEAR OLD MATHEW LUXON AND HIS FRIEND LYLE THOMPSON, ARE CHARGED WITH NEGLIGENT ARSON AND CONSPIRACY. LUXON ALSO FACES A CHARGE OF EVIDENCE TAMPERING.
THE ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL REPORTS THE TWO WERE SMOKING SIMULATED JOINTS MADE OF PAPER AND WEEDS (THAT WERE NOT MARIJUANA) EARLY IN THE MORNING ON MARCH 10TH WHEN THEY BEGAN COUGHING AND DROPPED THE CIGARETTES, SPARKING A FIRE. THE SPRINKLER SYSTEM CAME ON, AND STAYED ON FOR FOUR HOURS. THE DAMAGE IS NOW BEING PLACED AT HALF-A-MILLION DOLLARS. LUXON AND THOMPSON ARE NOT CURRENTLY IN CUSTODY.
