Arrest Made in Old Pink Arson Case

A Buffalo man has been arrested in connection with the fire that burned the beloved Pink in Allentown in June.

John W. Burns, 40, was arrested Friday, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. He is facing a federal arson charge, which could result in five to 20 years in prison if convicted.

According to information released Friday, Burns alleged had a confrontation with a security guard in front of the Pink on June 16, left the location and then came back and told the security he would “burn that b**ch down” and “ain’t nobody going to have a job.”

A few hours later, the Pink was on fire; it was torn down later that day.

Investigators reviewed video footage that appears to show someone, believed now to be Burns and identified as Burns by a witness, setting the building on fire in the early morning hours of June 17.

“Arson is an extremely dangerous crime, placing lives and property in danger. Arson has tremendous ripple effects, leaving people homeless, without employment or both. Here, the arson of the Old Pink left employees without jobs and destroyed an iconic gathering place in the Buffalo community,” said U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross Friday. “Such harm to our community will not be tolerated. My office will continue to investigate and prosecute all persons who commit arson, and other federal crimes, that negatively impact the Western District of New York.”

Thankfully, no injuries were reported in the fire and no other structures were damaged.

Burns has officially been charged by criminal complaint with maliciously damaging and destroying, and attempt to damage and destroy, by means of fire, a building and property used in interstate commerce and in activity affecting interstate commerce, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.