A New York City man has been charged with causing the deaths of four people, including a young child, after a fire broke out in an apartment building last month.
New York — A New York City man has been charged with killing four people, including a toddler, after setting an apartment building on fire last month in a fit of rage over losing his job, prosecutors said.
The building was chosen at random, according to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, who called the deadly fire “one of the greatest crimes this area has seen in a very long time.”
Roman Amatitla, 38, was seen going in and out of the building several times on March 16, prosecutors said. After buying a box of matches and stealing beer from a nearby gas station, he returned to the building, lit a piece of paper on fire and placed it on a pile of trash in the stairs — then watched the flames spread while drinking beer outside, according to the criminal complaint.
His lawyer did not respond to a request for comment.
The fire killed 3-year-old Sihan Yang, 49-year-old Chengri Kui, and 61-year-old Shen Qi. A fourth passenger, 64-year-old Hong Zhao, died after jumping out of a window to escape the flames.
Four others were treated for injuries, some serious, after they jumped from the building. Two firefighters were injured after a ladder collapsed.
Amatitla, also a Queens resident, later told investigators that he knew the building was occupied and people would get hurt, but said he needed to “vent off steam” after being fired from his job, according to the criminal complaint.
He said the job had nothing to do with the building or anyone living there, according to the complaint.
Amatitla was charged with eight counts of second-degree murder, arson and other charges. He faces 25 years in prison if convicted.