"He admitted to intentionally starting the fire to get out his rage, the prosecutor added. Amatitla was arrested earlier this week for the March 16 fire, which killed 3-year-old Sihan Yang, 50-year-old Chengri Cui, and two other victims - a 61-year-old woman and a 63-year-old man whose identities authorities have yet to release."
"Once he selected the red-brick home on the corner of College Point Boulevard and Avery Avenue, they said, he walked in and out several times, then went to a nearby gas station. He acquired two beers, paid for one, stole the other and asked for lighters from the clerk."
"Prosecutors said Amatitla followed a resident into the building around 12:30 p.m. on the day of the blaze. Once inside, he allegedly set the fire and allowed it to grow as it consumed trash nearby."
Roman Amatitla, 38, is accused of starting a fire in Flushing that killed four people, including a 3-year-old. Prosecutors stated he acted out of rage after being fired from his job. Amatitla ignited a piece of paper in the building's vestibule and then watched as residents attempted to escape. He admitted to intentionally starting the fire. The victims included a child and two elderly individuals. Amatitla faces multiple charges, including murder and arson, and had previously stolen a lighter before the incident.
Read at Gothamist
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]