A man has been accused of consuming a beer and observing the aftermath of igniting a New York building, resulting in the deaths of four individuals. Roman Almatitla, aged 38, faces charges of arson, murder, and assault linked to a recent fire incident at a three-story structure in Flushing. Tragically, three adults and a three-year-old girl lost their lives in the incident, with some individuals resorting to jumping out of windows to evade the flames, as per Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz.
The victims, Chengri Cui (49), Shin Chie Ming (61), and the young girl, perished due to smoke inhalation at the scene. Another victim, Hong Zhao (64), suffered fatal injuries after leaping from a window to escape, sustaining brain trauma and multiple fractures before succumbing to his injuries at the hospital. Additionally, several others sustained injuries, including two firefighters who had to be rescued following a staircase collapse.
Almatitla allegedly confessed to having no specific purpose for being at the building that day, citing anger over losing his job as the motive for starting the fire. He reportedly entered the building multiple times before purchasing a beer from a nearby gas station, stealing another one, and requesting a lighter from the cashier. Surveillance footage captured his movements at the gas station and later returning to the building, where he followed a woman inside as she opened the door.
Reportedly, he lit a piece of paper with matches and placed it in a trash can near the exit for the second and third floors. While the first floor housed a commercial space, the upper levels comprised residential apartments. A witness recounted seeing individuals jumping from the second floor during the chaos, with one woman frantically crying out for her baby.
Notably, the property had been cited with over 50 violations by the Department of Buildings since 2020. In a separate incident in 2023, inspectors uncovered an illegal gambling operation on the first floor, resulting in a substantial fine issued to the organizers. The most recent violation, related to a failure to maintain the premises, was reported in January this year after investigators discovered unauthorized extension cables running between the floors.
