On April 10, 2026, in Flushing, a major fire resulted in the deaths of four people. The arson suspect, 38-year-old Roman Amatitla, appeared in Queens Criminal Court on April 9. The Queens District Attorney, Katz, announced that the suspect is facing charges of 8 counts of second-degree murder, along with multiple charges of arson, assault, and other offenses. Katz described the case as a “mass murder,” stating that the suspect acted randomly and had no connection to the victims.
Assistant District Attorney Gabriel Reale revealed in court that the suspect had no prior acquaintance with the residents of the building where the incident occurred. He randomly chose a red-brick residential building at the intersection of College Point Blvd and Avery Ave as his target.
According to the prosecution, around 11:43 am on the day of the incident, Amatitla entered the building for the first time and subsequently made multiple entries and exits within about 20 minutes, loitering in front of the door and even urinating on the street.
He later crossed the street to a nearby gas station, where he bought a can of beer and stole another, and then asked for a lighter from the store clerk, which was refused. He then obtained a box of matches.
The prosecution stated that around 12:30 pm, the suspect followed a resident into the building, ignited paper in the ground floor hallway, causing the fire to spread to nearby debris. He then walked to the street corner, drinking beer and watching as residents panicked to escape.
“He admitted to setting the fire deliberately to release his anger,” Reale said, noting that the suspect even witnessed individuals jumping out of windows, with some surviving and others dying on the spot.
According to the criminal complaint, Amatitla told the New York City Police Department that he set the fire because he had been fired after an argument at work and needed to vent his anger.
District Attorney Katz remarked, “This is a case of mass murder. The defendant intentionally set fire inside a building where people were living, resulting in the deaths of four individuals, including a 3-year-old girl, with no connection to the victims, randomly chosen as targets.”
The fire resulted in the deaths of 4 people and injuries to 7 others. The deceased include 3-year-old Sihan Yang, found dead on a third-floor bed; 49-year-old Chengri Cui; and 61-year-old Taiwanese immigrant Shin Chie Ming, who all died from smoke inhalation.
The fourth victim, 64-year-old Hong Zhao, jumped out of a window during the fire, sustaining multiple fractures and brain trauma, and succumbed to his injuries at 2:30 pm on the same day.
Additionally, at least 4 residents were injured while escaping through windows, with one still hospitalized, and another resident had to be rescued by firefighters from a second-story window due to smoke inhalation and is receiving treatment.
Authorities noted that the suspect had no previous criminal record and was arrested on April 8 by federal marshals and the NYPD. During the court hearing on April 9, the defendant did not speak and had the proceedings interpreted via Spanish translation. Judge Thomas Wright-Fernandez approved the prosecution’s request to remand the suspect pending trial.
Council Member Sandra Ung released a statement saying, “If proven true, this is undeniably a deliberate and horrifying act of violence, and if convicted, the defendant must bear full responsibility and face the harshest punishment under the law. Our city will not tolerate such senseless brutality.”
According to the criminal complaint, Amatitla is facing charges of 8 counts of second-degree murder, one count of first-degree arson, one count of second-degree arson, two counts of first-degree assault, two counts of second-degree assault, and one count of petit larceny. If convicted on all charges, the defendant could be sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.
The defendant’s defense lawyer, Vivian Cedeno, asserted that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The case is scheduled for another court hearing on April 13.