Faces additional charges in attempted ‘ninja’ homicide last month
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Michael Norley, Jr. faces arson charges from a 2013 fire in Downingtown and is expected to face additional charges of attempted homicide from an incident earlier this month.
DOWNINGTOWN — A Lancaster man has been charged in the 2013 arson of a borough sign shop, Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan announced, Tuesday and faces additional charges for attempted homicide while dressed as a ninja, in a related incident earlier this month.
Charges were filed against Michael Norley Jr., 29, for an alleged arson at Pro Signs on July 14, 2013. The defendant allegedly also spray-painted racist graffiti at the site, including “Kill Whitez” and “Kill Zimmerman” (a reference to the Trayvon Martin/George Zimmerman incident). The defendant, authorities charged, set the fires to retaliate against his employers. The defendant recently was arrested and charged with attempted homicide for an alleged hammer attack on one of the owners — Norley’s uncle.
Hogan, in filing the charges, said Norley’s alleged acts were extreme.
“This defendant engaged in extraordinarily reckless behavior,” Hogan said in a statement. “He tried to burn down a building. He tried to inflame racial tensions with graffiti. This defendant was out for destruction and chaos at any cost.”
Norley whose last-known address was in Lititz, is charged with setting a number of fires at the Pro Signs on Boot Road last year. Authorities said that numerous fires were located in the building, including fires in and around a vintage sign vehicle. The fires were extinguished by local fire departments. The fires caused approximately $375,000 in damage.
This vintage truck was among the items allegedly set fire by a Lancaster man, seemingly angry at his uncle and partners for firing him from a Downingtown sign shop .
Norley is alleged to have also spray-painted graffiti at the site. That graffiti included “Kill Whitez” and “Kill Zimmerman.” This incident took place when the Trayvon Martin/George Zimmerman shooting incident was being publicly debated. Norley is described as a former employee at Pro Signs, and one who held a grudge.
As the investigation, by borough police and the Chester County Detectives, continued, investigators also determined that the fire had to be set by somebody who was familiar with the physical layout of the business and that the defendant had sent a suspicious text to one of the owners shortly after the fire.
Based on the site investigation by the Chester County Fire Marshal’s Office, the Fire Marshal determined that the fires were arson. It appeared that the arsonist had set the fires using an accelerant placed in plastic bottles, investigators said. The graffiti, they said, was an attempt to mislead investigators and potentially bring a racial element into the case.
On Aug.19, Norley was arrested for attempted homicide. Police said he dressed as a ninja and then attacked one of the owners of Pro Signs (his uncle) with a hammer. The defendant struck the victim multiple times in the head. Norley has been charged with arson, burglary, and related offenses. The defendant already is in custody for the attempted homicide. He will be arraigned on the new charges and a preliminary hearing date will be set.
Hogan said that acts of arson must be dealt with harshly.
“Any arson endangers both innocent civilians and the fire fighters responding to do their job,” Hogan said. “Arsonists have no regard for property or the value of human life.”
Deputy District Attorney Tom Ost-Prisco has been assigned to prosecute the case.
Anybody with additional information about the case should contact Chester County Detective Joseph Nangle at (610) 344-6866.
