Family gathers for victims of 7-Eleven arson in Chula Vista who were seriously injured – NBC 7 San Diego

Family and friends gathered Sunday evening around the two women who were seriously injured in a fire at a 7-Eleven in South Bay.

“I feel numb with emotion,” said Dominic Rivera, one of the victim’s sons.

Around 8 a.m. Saturday, officers responded to a fire at the 7-Eleven in Chula Vista at 899 Broadway. When they arrived, they found a woman with burns leaving the store and then heard another person inside the store also suffering from burns. That woman had to be pulled out because she was unable to move herself, CVPD Sergeant Anthony Molina said.

Both victims, identified as 7-Eleven employees, were taken to a hospital.

Firefighters were able to put out the fire. Sergeant Molina said there were no customers in the store at the time of the fire and no one else was injured.

Dominic’s mother, whom he identified as Amanda Buchanan, suffered potentially life-threatening burns in the fire.

“I visited my mother today and I could barely look at her and barely recognized her,” he said. “These are severe traumatic injuries and her body is burned a little over 80%. Even if they did skin grafts, her body wouldn’t have enough skin to do all the skin grafts.”

The other victim suffered serious injuries, but his life was not in danger, officials said.

According to investigators, 47-year-old Jose Carlos Villanueva is responsible for the fire. Initial indications are that Villanueva used a flammable liquid before starting the fire.

He is in custody following his arrest in Redlands.

“For the last six months, she’s been trying to leave this guy,” said Alma Ogden, a friend and roommate of Amanda’s who was constantly worried about her.

“She had been with him since November 2022, but I never really liked him. I always thought he was a bad person. There were many factors and many warning signs,” she said.

Villanueva is accused of numerous crimes, including attempted first-degree murder, torture and arson.

On Sunday, family and friends of the victims gathered at the crime scene to hold a vigil for their loved ones.

The group prayed and shared their fondest memories of Buchanan.

“I want to be with her every step of the way. I just want her to know that I will always be by her side,” Rivera said.

Villanueva is expected in court on Wednesday for arraignment.