A Chicago man has been charged with murder and arson for allegedly starting a fire that killed four people, including a pregnant woman and her son.
According to CBS News, 23-year-old Lontray Clark set fire after discovering that his ex-girlfriend was dating a friend of his. Cook County prosecutors stated during Clark’s first court appearance that he texted his ex-girlfriend after seeing her post a selfie on Snapchat from a friend’s apartment.
That night, around 12:20 a.m., Clark and his cousin allegedly drove to a nearby gas station, where he filled an antifreeze container with gasoline before driving to the apartment where his ex-girlfriend was staying with Clark’s friend.
Clark was later caught on surveillance video parking in an alley behind the apartment where the couple was staying, according to the Chicago Tribune, citing prosecutors. Around 1:23 a.m., Clark returned to his car, where his cousin awaited him, and drove to his grandfather’s house, where he threw away his clothes, according to prosecutors.
Clark’s ex-girlfriend and a friend managed to escape their apartment, but the fire spread throughout the complex, according to prosecutors.
According to CBS News, four people died in the fire: Brad Cummings, 76, Regina Henry, 32, whose family said she was three months pregnant, her 5-year-old son Jayceon Henry, and Regina’s sister Destiny Henry, 28.
Firefighters discovered Brad Cummings, Regina Henry, and Jayceon Henry while putting out the fire, according to the outlet. All three were pronounced dead after being transported to a local hospital. The following day, Destiny Henry was discovered dead inside the building.
Four other people were taken to the hospital following the fire, including Destiny’s 4-year-old son Kyle, who is still reportedly in critical condition.
Destiny’s relative, Latyra Goodman, told ABC7 that she escaped the fire but returned to the building to look for her son, who she believed was trapped inside.
“If my cousin had known that, her son would have already been out the window. “She’d probably still be here right now,” Goodman told the outlet. “We just ask you all please keep the family in your prayers.”
Clark is charged with four counts of first-degree murder, four counts of aggravated arson, two counts of attempted murder, and one count of residential arson in connection with the early-morning fire on June 26, according to the Tribune.
A judge has ordered that he be held in jail while awaiting his trial, describing the alleged act as a “brazen disregard for life.”
