The police in South Ozone Park, Queens, received a domestic violence call on Thursday (April 30th) and went to the scene only to be met with a violent explosion, leaving at least eight officers injured. The explosion triggered a five-alarm fire, leading to a mass evacuation of residents who were left displaced. All residents have been safely evacuated, except for the abuser who remains missing. On Thursday morning, rescue workers discovered a body in the rubble at the scene, potentially that of the male suspect.
According to the New York City Police Department, a resident reported that a male relative under the influence of alcohol had entered their residence with a knife, and there was also a smell resembling gas. Around 2:45 in the morning, near the intersection of 109th Ave and 130th Street in South Ozone Park, officers preparing to enter the residence were suddenly met with a severe explosion. The force of the blast knocked several officers to the ground, with some even being thrown onto the fence in front of the house.
Despite injuries and facing a rapidly spreading fire, officers immediately rushed into the building and successfully rescued a trapped individual. New York City Police Commissioner praised these heroic officers on social media for their bravery.
Assistant Patrol Commander Christopher McIntosh stated at a press conference at the scene that surveillance footage showed a 50-year-old man, Anroop Parasram, entering the basement apartment with two garbage bags containing unknown gas canisters.
Allegedly, the suspect’s wife, daughter, and two grandchildren lived together in the apartment. Except for the wife, the rest of the family members quickly fled; the suspect’s wife managed to escape in a short time and handed the keys to the arriving officers outside. The suspect had threatened his wife with a knife but did not cause any fatal injuries.
The New York City Fire Department mentioned that the fire escalated rapidly to a five-alarm fire after the explosion, and around 300 firefighters were mobilized to the scene for extinguishing efforts.
Following the containment of the fire, firefighters continued search and rescue operations at the scene. By around 11:30 am on Thursday, rescue personnel found a human body in the debris pile, awaiting official identification by authorities. Police stated that all residents have been confirmed safe, with the only missing person being Parasram, suggesting that the body found might be his. At the time of writing, no arrests have been announced by the police.
Investigations revealed that the man was captured on surveillance cameras carrying two black bags with unknown containers before the incident. Authorities suspect he used an unknown accelerant to start the fire, leading to the explosion.
Fire Department Chief John Esposito pointed out that due to the intense fire, firefighters were initially unable to enter the house, resulting in the complete collapse of the building.
The blaze affected nearby structures, causing minor damages to buildings and forcing at least 16 people to evacuate.
The eight injured officers were taken to local hospitals for treatment, with injuries ranging from minor burns to lacerations, one requiring stitches for a head laceration.
Police disclosed that there had been multiple domestic dispute incident reports at the residence in the past year. The residents had sought protection orders against the suspect three times, with the most recent one expiring in 2024.