Updated at the bottom with the suspect charged today with capital murder. Prosecutors claim he was “lying in wait.” First posted at 7:07 a.m.

A man set on fire in front of Long Beach 7-Eleven has died, Long Beach police announced.

The horrific attack, allegedly by a homeless man, was captured on the store's security video, and the subsequent blaze was also videotaped:

Long Beach police said late yesterday that 63-year-old Jerry Payne died of his injuries in the Friday attack.

Thirty-eight-year-old suspect Raymond Sean Clark, who allegedly doused the victim and his parked Toyota 4Runner with flammable liquid before sparking the blaze, was arrested and would be re-booked for murder following news of the death, police said.

The violence happened Friday about 5:15 p.m. at the store in the 5100 block Pacific Coast Highway, according to the Long Beach Police Department.

It was originally described by cops as a random act of violence, but at least one witness said words were exchanged before the attack.


View Larger Map

The suspect is apparently known to panhandle in the area. Payne was sitting in the SUV when he was set on fire.

While the Long Beach department states that “those who witnessed the incident came to the victim's aid by extinguishing the flames,” it also says that plenty of witnesses who clearly saw the crime had yet to come forward to tell police what happened.

Detectives would like to talk to them: 562-570-7244.

[Update at 12:40 p.m.]: The L.A. County District Attorney's office today announced that suspect Raymond Sean Clark, 38, has been charged with capital murder in connection with the case.

Prosecutors have added special circumstances of “lying in wait, torture and mayhem,” according to a D.A.'s statement, making the suspect eligible for the death penalty if he's convicted.

The office states:

Clark was charged with special circumstance murder and arson causing great bodily injury for the April 12 fatal arson attack that killed Jerry Payne, 63. Authorities said Payne was sitting alone in his vehicle parked near a convenience store in the 5100 block of Pacific Coast Highway when Clark allegedly walked up to the driver's side window and tossed a flammable substance inside. The vehicle and the victim both were enveloped in flames.

Arraignment for the transient was scheduled at 1:30 p.m.

[@dennisjromero / djromero@laweekly.com / @LAWeeklyNews]

Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.