A Massive House Explosion in New York Have Killed One Police Officer and Injured Several Other

In a tragic incident in Queens, New York, NYPD officers were responding to a domestic disturbance call in the early hours of April 30, when a massive explosion took place. A body was recovered from the site and is believed to be that of the suspect. New York Police Department officers were seen running back into the scene after the explosion to rescue trapped children and adults.

The explosion in the early hours of April 30 triggered a five-alarm fire at a home in Queens.

Multiple homes were damaged in the fire, and more than a dozen residents were displaced. Seven NYPD officers were also injured in the explosion and fire. However, all those injured are reportedly stable.

Body camera footage of the incident was released by the New York Police Department, which captured the explosion and its immediate aftermath. “The guy (suspect) just set the house on fire, we’ve got an explosion,” one officer can be heard saying in the video.

The incident occurred when officers responded to a domestic dispute at around 3 in the morning at a home on 130th Street in South Richmond Hill, NYPD Assistant Chief Christopher McIntosh said at a press conference.

The 911 caller was a family member of the man suspected of starting the fire, later identified as 50-year-old Anoop Parasram. The caller said it smelled like gas inside the home. The suspect was allegedly intoxicated and was armed with a knife. He had forced his way inside the home from a basement window, according to authorities.

“Once in the apartment, the suspect’s daughter and his two grandchildren managed to flee to safety,” said McIntosh. The suspect began threatening another victim with a knife, but the victim was able to escape, McIntosh added. When officers arrived on the scene, one of the victims gave them the house key.

“Our officers were at the front door of the residence attempting to enter, when suddenly a massive fiery explosion erupted,” McIntosh said. The explosion occurred 15 minutes after the initial 911 call, and seconds after the blast, the NYPD officers, some of whom had been injured, rushed in to evacuate residents, including several children. CBS News New York has reported that a body was recovered from the rubble, which is believed to be the suspect's.

According to the CBS report, the suspect had three expired orders of protection against him, and police had been called to the home numerous times. The cause of the explosion remains under investigation. The mayor, Zohran Mamdani, expressed his gratitude to the first responders.