FLUSHING, Queens (WABC) — A fire at a three-story building in Queens that left four people dead, including a 3-year-old girl, is now being investigated as a homicide.
The deadly fire happened around 12:30 p.m. on Monday, March 16, at a mixed-used building on College Point Boulevard between Avery and Pople avenues in Flushing.
The fire killed four people, including 3-year-old Sihan Yang, 50-year-old Chengri Cui, and a 61-year-old woman and 63-year-old man, who have not been identified yet.
Officials say the Office of Chief Medical Examiner deemed the incident a homicide on Friday.
NYPD detectives, inspectors from the Department of Buildings and the fire marshal had already started a complex investigation into the deadly fire, after it had been cited for illegal gambling and had a history of complaints for illegal conversions dating back to 1998.
Darla Miles has the details on the fire in Queens that left four people dead, and many others injured.
Neighbors say they saw things escalate with the building two years ago when the original owner died.
They noted there have been slot machines brought inside and squatters stealing electricity, as just some of the problems for this building.
According to city records, the second and third floors of the building have been off limits as it was under a vacate order.
Neighbors say they’ve been complaining about squatters for years.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, and no arrests have been made so far.
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