NY police arrested a man on Tuesday morning, who they believe is responsible for setting a Brooklyn apartment on fire last month that resulted in the deaths of 4 people, 3 adults and a 3-year-old child. The fire occurred on March 16, starting just before 12:30 pm at 132-05 Avery Ave. and 44-49 College Point Blvd. in Flushing, according to the FDNY. The first and second floors of the 3-story multi-dwelling house were engulfed in flames.
More than 74 FDNY units, around 230 first responders, arrived on scene to what became a 4-alarm fire. Over a dozen people were injured, including 6 firefighters. The fire killed 4 people, including 3-year-old Sihan Yang and 50-year-old Chengri Cui. The other two victims, a 61-year-old woman and a 63-year-old man, have not been publicly identified, as police are still trying to notify their families.
Neighbor and witness Joe Cruz expressed disbelief and sadness following the event, saying,
“My heart that day, my heart went out to the baby, the 3-year-old… They took innocent people’s lives that day”.
“This is a difficult and tragic day. I can tell you that the Fire Department did an extraordinary job under difficult circumstances putting this fire out and saving people,” said FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore.
A joint investigation between NYPD detectives and US Marshals eventually identified Queens resident, 38-year-old Roman Amatitla, as responsible for the fire and deaths. He was arrested on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, and was charged with “eight counts of murder, eight counts of arson, 12 counts of assault, and four counts of petit larceny” the next day. He is set to be arraigned today.
He was arrested at his home, several miles from the scene of the crime. During his arrest, Amatitla “said nothing and ignored questions as he was brought out of the 109th precinct station”. Police say that Amatitla had no prior arrests and no connection to the building. He also had no relationship with any of the victims. Police have been unable to identify a motive, but the investigation remains open. According to officials, he “deliberately set fire to a piece of paper and a piece of wood” and used an accelerant to grow the fire.
