Transient Charged In Deadly Westlake Building Fire

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A 21-year-old transient was charged Wednesday with capital murder for allegedly setting fire to a vacant building in the Westlake District that left five people dead.

Johnny Josue Sanchez is charged with five counts of capital murder with the special circumstances of multiple murders and arson murder and two counts of attempted, premeditated murder, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced.

The blaze was reported just after 7 p.m. Monday at a 14,000-square-foot, two-story office building at 2411 W. Eighth St. near MacArthur Park, Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey said.

A total of 147 firefighters fought the fire for two hours and 22 minutes, bringing it under control at about 9:25 p.m. Monday.

Three people were rescued from the building, two of whom were released and one of whom was transported to the hospital.

No firefighters were injured in Monday's incident.

The building, which has long been vacant, has been the site of past fires, Humphrey said. Investigators are looking into what caused the blaze.

Sanchez allegedly set the fire intentionally because he had a dispute with other transients living in the building, police and fire officials said at a news conference Tuesday.

Sanchez, who was taken into custody at about 8 p.m. Monday, was scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday afternoon. Prosecutors will ask that he be held without bail.

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