Surveillance video released in Las Vegas pet shop arson case

LAS VEGAS - Surveillance video has been released showing what prosecutors say is Gloria Eun Hye Lee, and her accomplice Kirk Bills, torching Lee's Las Vegas pet shop with 27 puppies inside.

Lee, 35, and Bills, 27, are accused of setting fire to Lee's Prince and Princess pet store and an adjacent business in a strip mall southwest of the Las Vegas Strip on Jan. 27, 2014. Prosecutors have said profit appears to be the motive for the arson..

Fire officials credited sprinklers with dousing flames at the shop until firefighters arrived and rescued all the puppies from their cages. The sprinkles also apparently helped preserve the surveillance footage.

Prosecutors say Lee is seen in the video entering her store and then two minutes later, is seen letting Bills in. The store is dark and the puppies are in their cages along the wall.

Investigators say Bills is then seen dousing the shelves with what looks like lighter fluid while Lee gathers files and other paperwork from the office.

Minutes later, the cameras catch the first splashes of gas being thrown onto store merchandise and along the front of the cages holding the dogs.

Lee is then seen exiting the store and Bills apparently continues pouring flammable liquids and lays down newspapers. Minutes later, the store is on fire.

The puppies can be seen in the video footage moving away from the heat as more and more of the store is engulfed. Bills then exits. Within two minutes of the first sighing of flames, the fire alarm goes off and the sprinklers come on.

Lee has pleaded not guilty to 31 felony and misdemeanor charges of arson, conspiracy, burglary and attempted animal cruelty. Her trial is scheduled for July 7.

Bills is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday. Lee is also due in court Thursday for a motion to set bail.