A woman accused of setting fire to a housing complex in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, leaving elderly residents trying to escape by hanging out of windows, reportedly yelled disturbing words at her father following an argument. Laquita Spears, 48, who had been residing in the building for several weeks, allegedly ignited the fire after being evicted due to a dispute with her parents.
Spears, described as behaving erratically and talking to herself for weeks leading up to the incident, set multiple fires in the complex after the altercation with her father. According to authorities, she used charcoal fluid and a lighter to start the fire in her father’s apartment while he was present, shouting profanities before fleeing the scene.
In a police report, it was detailed that Spears lit a coat and a couch on fire inside the apartment. Despite her father’s attempts to extinguish the flames, the fire quickly spread to neighboring units, causing smoke inhalation and injuries to residents who were forced to evacuate without the aid of a fire suppression system.
The complaint mentioned that occupants had to self-evacuate, with some individuals resorting to hanging out of windows to escape the spreading fire. The housing complex primarily housed elderly and disabled individuals, and Spears, who has a history of arson offenses, was reportedly exhibiting signs of increasing instability leading up to the incident.
Charges of arson and reckless endangerment have been filed against Spears, who allegedly admitted to using charcoal fluid on clothing in the apartment and igniting the fires at multiple locations before leaving. Despite her actions, Spears claimed she did not intend to harm anyone and did not anticipate the fire’s rapid spread.
