Shocking arson attack in Queens, New York: On March 16, 2026, 38-year-old Roman Amatitla allegedly set a deliberate fire in a Flushing apartment building on Avery Avenue, killing four people—including a 3-year-old girl—and injuring seven others. He had no ties to the residents, entered the building multiple times beforehand, lit paper on hallway garbage at the stairwell base, then casually bought beer and matches at a nearby gas station before returning to watch the blaze spread.
What Happened, Step by Step
- Lead-Up: Surveillance showed Amatitla lingering outside (even urinating there), entering repeatedly.
- The Fire: Started ~12:30 p.m. in the first-floor stairwell; took 230 FDNY firefighters 2+ hours to control. He admitted hearing people inside but did it to “get his anger out” after losing his job.
- Victims:Name/AgeCause of Death/InjuryDetailsSihan Yang, 3Pronounced at sceneFound on 3rd-floor bedChengri Cui, 49Smoke inhalationFound insideShin Chie Ming, 61Smoke inhalationFound insideHong Zhao, 64Blunt force traumaJumped from window7 others (ages 33-67)Various (broken ribs, burns, smoke)Jumped from windows; some FDNY injured in collapse
- His Actions Post-Fire: Bought beer/matches, stuck around watching flames consume the building.
Queens DA Melinda Katz called it “an act of mass murder.” Amatitla faces 8 counts of second-degree murder, arson, and more—pleaded not guilty, held without bail, next court date April 13. Could mean 25-to-life if convicted. Fires like this spread fast in multi-family buildings; smoke detectors and escape plans save lives. Thoughts on this one?
