Fla. man Roosevelt Mondesir allegedly set ex-girlfriend on fire at 7-Eleven

(CBS) BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. - A man doused his ex-girlfriend in gasoline and set her on fire, then chased her with a knife, burning himself in the process Monday morning, reports CBS affiliate WPEC.

Boynton Beach police responded at 3 a.m. to a report that Roosevelt Mondesir, 59, was throwing gasoline on his 34-year-old ex-girlfriend at a 7-Eleven and setting her on fire. 

The woman was inside the store when police arrived and her shirt was still on fire in the parking lot. She had fresh burns to her face and body.

A tracking dog and helicopter helped find Mondesir hiding in bushes near the 7-Eleven.

According to a probable cause affidavit, the victim told police from her hospital bed that she was scheduled to meet Mondesir at the 7-Eleven to pick up their 4-year-old son as part of a shared custody arrangement.

Police say Mondesir showed up without the boy and approached the victim with a gas can. The woman tried to get into her car but was splashed with gas. She ran from Mondesir, who set her on fire. 

Police say the victim began to douse the flames and removed her burning shirt when she realized Mondesir had a long knife, possibly a machete, and he began to chase her with it. She ran into the store and tried to hold the door shut while 7-Eleven staff called police. Mondesir then left the scene.

The entire scene was captured on surveillance video.

Mondesir is being treated for burns at Bethesda hospital and faces a charge of attempted first-degree murder. The woman is at Delray Medical Center.