A man is accused of consuming a beer and observing the aftermath following the ignition of a New York building, resulting in the deaths of four individuals.
Roman Almatitla, aged 38, has been arrested on charges of arson, murder, and assault related to the fire incident at a three-story structure in Flushing last month.
According to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, three adults and a three-year-old girl perished in the tragic event, where some individuals had to leap from windows to escape the fire.
The victims identified as Chengri Cui, 49, Shin Chie Ming, 61, and the young girl, succumbed to smoke inhalation at the location. Hong Zhao, 64, jumped from a window, sustaining severe injuries leading to his death at the hospital.
Multiple individuals suffered injuries, including two firefighters who had to be rescued after a staircase collapse within the building.
Almatitla reportedly confessed that he had no specific motive to visit the building on that day and allegedly ignited the fire out of anger over losing his job earlier.
He entered the building multiple times before purchasing a beer from a nearby gas station, stealing another, and requesting a lighter from the cashier. Surveillance footage captured his activities at the gas station before he returned to the building, following a woman inside.
Allegedly, he ignited a piece of paper with matches and placed it in a trash can near the exit leading to the second and third floors.
The building’s first floor is designated for commercial use, while the upper floors consist of residential apartments. A witness recounted seeing two individuals jumping from the second floor, with one woman crying out for her child.
Records indicate that the property had received over 50 violations from the Department of Buildings since 2020. Additionally, inspectors discovered an illicit gambling operation on the first floor in 2023, resulting in a significant fine.
The most recent violation for failure to maintain the property was issued in January this year after investigators found extension cables connecting the first to third floors.
