A 38-year-old man has been charged with multiple counts of murder after allegedly setting a deadly fire in a Queens apartment building that killed four people, including a young child, and injured several others.
Authorities identified the suspect as Roman Amatitla, a resident of Maspeth. He was arrested and formally charged with eight counts of second-degree murder and first-degree arson in connection with the March 16 fire at a three-story building in Flushing. If convicted, he could face a sentence of 25 years to life in prison.
Melinda Katz described the incident as an “act of mass murder,” emphasizing that the suspect had no known connection to the victims or the building. According to prosecutors, the attack appeared to be completely random.
Investigators say Amatitla entered and exited the building multiple times before the fire. At one point, he reportedly behaved erratically outside the apartments. He later went to a nearby gas station, where he allegedly purchased a beer, stole another, and took matches after refusing to pay for a lighter.
Authorities allege he returned to the building for a final time and ignited a piece of paper, throwing it onto trash near a stairwell. The fire quickly spread, filling the building with smoke and flames.
Prosecutors told the court that the suspect remained at the scene, watching as residents desperately tried to escape. Some jumped from windows to survive, while others were trapped inside.
Among the victims were 3-year-old Sihan Yang, Chengri Cui (49), and Chie Shin Ming (61), who died from smoke inhalation inside the building. A fourth victim, Hong Zhao (64), died later in the hospital after suffering severe injuries from jumping out of a window.
Several others were injured, including firefighters responding to the scene. Two members of the fire department were hurt when a staircase collapsed during rescue efforts, while multiple residents were injured attempting to escape the flames.
Prosecutors suggested the suspect may have acted out of uncontrolled anger, though no confirmed motive has been established.
Amatitla remains in custody following his arraignment before Judge Thomas Wright-Fernandez and is scheduled to return to court on April 13.
