A quiet Flushing, Queens neighborhood was shattered by a horrific act of arson, leaving a trail of devastation and claiming the lives of four innocent people, including a three-year-old girl. Roman Amatitla, 38, now faces the weight of multiple murder and arson charges for allegedly setting the blaze that ripped through a three-story apartment building on March 16th.
The chilling detail emerging from the investigation is the apparent randomness of the attack. Authorities state Amatitla had no connection to the building or its residents, selecting his target with a disturbing lack of motive. District Attorney Melinda Katz described the act as “mass murder,” emphasizing the senselessness of the tragedy.
Witnesses and prosecutors paint a disturbing picture of Amatitla’s actions leading up to the fire. He was observed repeatedly entering and exiting the Avery Avenue building, even brazenly urinating in public. A trip to a nearby gas station involved stealing a beer and a pack of matches after refusing to pay for a lighter.
The fire itself was ignited with chilling simplicity – a piece of paper set ablaze and tossed onto trash near a stairwell. Amatitla then remained in the vicinity, allegedly watching as the building became engulfed in flames and chaos unfolded.
The scene quickly turned desperate as residents attempted to escape the inferno. Accounts from the courtroom reveal Amatitla calmly sipping a beer while observing people jumping from windows, some surviving, others tragically losing their lives. The image is a haunting testament to the alleged perpetrator’s detachment.
Sihan Yang, just three years old, Chengri Cui, 49, and Shin Chie Ming, 61, were found inside the building, succumbing to smoke inhalation. Hong Zhao, 64, suffered catastrophic injuries after leaping from a window in a desperate attempt to escape, later dying at a local hospital.
The bravery of first responders was also tested as firefighters battled the blaze. A staircase collapse sent a lieutenant and a firefighter plunging into the basement, resulting in thermal burns and smoke inhalation. Four other residents were injured jumping from the building, while another was dramatically rescued from a second-story window.
While a definitive motive remains elusive, prosecutors suggest Amatitla was driven by a need to unleash pent-up rage. His origins are traced to Mexico, though his immigration status is currently unconfirmed.
Amatitla is currently held in custody, awaiting his next court appearance on April 13th. If convicted on the charges against him, he faces a potential sentence of 25 years to life in prison, a stark consequence for an act that has irrevocably scarred a community.
