A disturbing incident unfolded in Queens late Monday evening when a suspected arsonist targeted a local restaurant, funeral home, and synagogue, law enforcement sources report. The spree of fires forced a woman to leap from a second-floor window to escape the blaze.
Authorities allege the fires were ignited around 9:10 p.m. at three locations: 888 Kitchen on Flushing Avenue near 61st Street, D’Angelo Funeral Home II on Grand Avenue near 65th Street, and the Maspeth Jewish Center on Grand Avenue near Borden Avenue.
In the chaos at the Flushing Avenue site, two individuals were injured. A 26-year-old man sustained a finger injury while attempting to open a fire escape window, and a 27-year-old woman suffered minor leg injuries from jumping out of a second-story window, according to police and sources.
Both victims were transported to Elmhurst Hospital Center for treatment, police confirmed.
During a subsequent search of the area, officers apprehended the suspected arsonist, who was taken to a hospital in police custody with charges still pending, authorities stated.
The woman, who did not have identification on her and is described as an “emotionally disturbed person,” reportedly set the fires for “opportunistic” reasons, according to sources.
The incident comes two days after a firebug with 15 previous arrests was busted for allegedly hurling a Molotov cocktail that set a Brooklyn business ablaze – leaving one firefighter injured, authorities and sources said.
Isidro Aquino, 39, allegedly sparked the massive fire around 1:45 p.m. inside a clothing store on Fort Hamilton Parkway near 53rd Street in Borough Park, police said.
It also comes weeks after a madman allegedly set a Flushing fire that killed four strangers — including a 3-year-old girl — all because he wanted “someone” to pay after he got booted from his job, prosecutors said.
Roman Amatitla, 38, allegedly set the blaze at random inside the Avery Avenue building on March 16 – and then callously stood outside sipping beer while he watched innocent victims die one by one, according to the Queens District Attorney’s Office.
He has since been ordered held behind bars without bail.
