A transient suspected of lighting two people on fire was charged today with two counts of attempted murder and other crimes, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced.

Phillip Darryl Cole (dob 7/4/61) is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon in Department 30 at the Foltz Criminal Justice Center in case BA446927. Prosecutors will ask that his bail be set at $2.3 million.

Deputy District Attorney Sean Carney with the Arson and Explosives Unit is prosecuting the case.

Cole allegedly approached a homeless encampment in South Los Angeles on May 19 and set two people on fire. He also is suspected of attacking two other people with a hammer while robbing them on the same day.

Cole is charged with two counts of attempted willful, deliberate and premeditated murder along with one count each of mayhem, arson causing great bodily injury and arson of an inhabited structure or property.

In addition, he is charged with one count each of first-degree residential robbery and second-degree robbery and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, a hammer. The complaint alleges Cole has prior convictions for robbery.

If convicted, Cole faces up to life in state prison.

The case remains under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department.

Los Angeles County District Attorney / case BA446927 / May 24, 2016