Virginia Man Set On Fire In Shopping Center Parking Lot

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) -- Fairfax County police were searching Friday for two would-be robbers who lit a man on fire after he refused to give them money outside a grocery store near the city of Alexandria.

The victim was sprayed with a flammable liquid about 11:15 p.m. as he left the Shoppers Food Warehouse at the Penn Daw Plaza shopping center on the 6200 block of North Kings Highway, police spokeswoman Mary Ann Jennings said.

The victim's friend came running out of the store and helped put out the flames, Jennings said. The victim was hospitalized with first- and second-degree burns to his upper body.

Police said they do not believe the victim knew his attackers.

The victim, whose name has not been released, was not immediately able to describe the suspects.

``I understand he was in a lot of trauma and shock at that point,'' Jennings said.