Kansas City man accused of setting fire to Habitat house

Kansas City man accused of setting fire to Habitat house

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A 27-year-old Kansas City man was charged today with setting a fire earlier this year that heavily damaged a house built by Habitat for Humanity.

Jackson County prosecutors charged Shawn M. Robinson with first-degree arson and illegal discharge of a firearm.

No one was injured in the Jan. 18 fire.

A woman who lived in the house with two children told police that Robinson allegedly texted her that day and threatened to burn down the house, according to police reports. When she returned home, he tried to get her to come inside. She refused and asked a neighbor to call police, according to the reports.

She then heard shots being fired inside and ducked behind a car. Neighbors saw smoke coming from the residence.

Robinson left before emergency responders arrived.

Investigators determined that the fire had been set intentionally and also found a rifle and 15 spent shell casings inside the house, according to the reports.