Homeless man charged with murder after deadly Bronx apartment fire, NYPD says
A man is facing murder charges in connection to a deadly fire in the Bronx.
It happened early Saturday on the top floors of a 17-story apartment building in the Eastchester section, police said.
Suspect dismantled stove in apartment, police say
As a result of the NYPD's investigation, 55-year-old Samuel Calderon was arrested Wednesday. Calderon, who police say is homeless, is facing a slew of charges, including murder, manslaughter, assault, burglary and petit larceny.
According to police, Calderon dismantled a stove in an apartment, causing a gas leak that led to an explosion.
"These units are newly renovated. How was a homeless person able to get into an apartment and detach a stove or do whatever to cause such a catastrophe?" one neighbor said.
It's unclear how Calderon accessed the unit, and a motive is also unknown at this time.
1 dead, 1 critically injured in Bronx fire
First responders were sent to the building on Bivona Street near Reeds Mill Lane just after 12:30 a.m. Saturday on a report of a fire.
When firefighters arrived, officials say they found Ronald McCallister, 60, and a 37-year-old man unconscious and unresponsive.
McCallister was pronounced dead at the scene, and the other man was taken to a local hospital in critical condition.
Five other people were taken to a local hospital in stable condition to be treated for injuries.
All of the building's residents – over 300 people – were displaced by the fire.
Neighbors told CBS News New York the explosion also triggered a gas outage in their building across the street, forcing them to cook with hot plates for days.