Second-Degree Murder Charge Filed in Fire That Claimed Four Lives

A man was recently charged with eight counts of second-degree murder, first-degree arson, two counts of first-degree assault, second-degree arson, two counts of second-degree assault, and petit larceny after allegedly setting fire to a building that killed four people.

According to reports, he allegedly started the fire after losing his job and drank a beer while watching the three-story building burn.

In a press release published on April 9, 2026, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said Roman Amatitla entered the ground floor of a three-story building at 132-05 Avery Ave. in Flushing, Queens, and left about one minute later, at approximately 11:43 a.m. March 16, 2026.

After that, he stayed near the building for about 15 minutes, and later entered and exited the building two more times within the next seven minutes.

Authorities said Amatitla crossed the street to a nearby gas station, where he bought one beer, allegedly stole another, and asked the clerk for a lighter. After being told lighters were not free, he purchased a pack of matches.

According to the press release, the man entered the building a fourth time, allegedly lit a piece of paper and placed it on top of garbage near a stairwell.

As smoke filled the street, Amatitla remained in the area and watched the fire while drinking alcohol.

Firefighters later discovered a 3-year-old girl, Sihan Yang, on the third floor. She was pronounced dead at the scene. A 49-year-old man, Chengri Cui, and a 61-year-old woman, Shin Chie Ming, were also found in the building and were pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities said all three deaths were caused by smoke inhalation.

Additionally, a 64-year-old man, Hong Zhao, suffered serious injuries after jumping from a window and was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital at 2:30 p.m.

Members of the FDNY, including a lieutenant and firefighter, were also transported to Jacobi Hospital for smoke inhalation and thermal burns while they were responding to the fire.

"Two members of the FDNY, a lieutenant and firefighter, entered the burning building to conduct rescues. Both fell to the basement when the staircase connecting the first floor to the second and third floors collapsed," the press release stated.

Additionally, four building occupants were injured after jumping from the building to escape the fire. One person was hospitalized, while a fifth occupant was rescued from a second-floor window and later treated for smoke inhalation.

"This was an act of mass murder. As alleged, Roman Amatitla deliberately set a fire in an occupied building and killed four people, including a 3-year-old girl. Shockingly, the defendant had no known connection to the building or any of its occupants and selected the building at random. I thank the brave FDNY members who risked their lives to save others in the building and the NYPD and US Marshals Service for apprehending this defendant," said Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz.

Amatitla was arraigned before Criminal Court Judge Thomas Wright-Fernandez, who remanded him without bail and ordered him to return to court on April 13, 2026, the press release said.

"He faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted," the release said.