An Evansville firefighter uses a ladder to try to quickly access the second floor of a burning apartment on W. Franklin Street near the N. Baker Avenue intersection in Evansville, Ind. Three people died and eight others were injured in the fire, which authorities are investigating as a possible arson.
Associated Press
EVANSVILLE, Ind. - Authorities say a young child and two adults died in an Evansville apartment building fire that a man has admitted setting.
The Vanderburgh County Coroner's Office said Tuesday the fire killed 28-year-old Keri Jones, 28; her daughter, 3-year-old Jazmine Jones; and 76-year-old Donald Lankford. All three died of smoke inhalation.
Police say 31-year-old Christopher Compton faces three counts of murder and four counts of arson in connection with the fire Monday. He's being held without bond. It's not clear if he has an attorney.
A probable cause affidavit released Tuesday says Compton admitted to detectives he set a jacket on fire in a hallway.
Authorities say four people jumped from a second-story window to escape the blaze, and three of them were hospitalized. Two were airlifted to an Indianapolis hospital.
Evansville police Officer Nathan Hassler and an Evansville firefighter tend to a victim of an apartment fire in Evansville, Ind., Monday, March 17, 2014. Three people died and eight others were injured in the fire.
Associated Press
Friends and family react as Evansville firefighters try to quickly access the second floor of a burning apartment on W. Franklin Street near the N. Baker Avenue intersection in Evansville, Ind., Monday, March 17, 2014, with a report of people still trapped inside. Three people have died and eight others injured in the fire which police say appears to have been set intentionally.
Associated Press