The man who allegedly set fire to a mixed-use building in Queens last month, killing a 3-year-old girl and three adults, and injuring others, chose it as a random outlet for his job frustration — and drank a beer as he watched the three-story structure burn, prosecutors said Thursday.
Nearly a half-dozen people jumped out of different windows of that Avery Avenue building to escape that March 16 fire, according to a criminal complaint. One of them died of blunt force trauma to the head.
The other three deaths were related to smoke inhalation, the medical examiner’s office has found.
Roman Almatitla, 38, was arraigned on Thursday on charges including murder, arson, and assault — all with a depraved indifference — in connection with the brazen afternoon fire.
Prosecutors allege Almatitla admitted he went to the building, one between College Point Boulevard and Saull Street, had commercial businesses on the first floor and multiple apartments on the two floors above, for no particular reason that day. He allegedly said he needed a place to take out his anger over a job loss.
According to a criminal complaint, Almatitla went to the building, then to the gas station across the street. Surveillance video allegedly shows him buying a beer, stealing a beer, and taking a book of matches.
(The criminal complaint charges him with petit larceny over the beer.)
Almatitla allegedly returned to the building and followed a woman inside as she entered the door. There, the complaint alleges, he lit a piece of paper on fire and dropped it in a trash can. He let it burn.
It was near the only exit for the second and third floors, home to the apartments.
Almatitla then allegedly went outside and watched the building burn as he drank his beer. Surveillance video captures most of the timeline, the complaint says.
The district attorney’s office says it has two videos in which Almatitla admits starting the fire.
A judge ordered him held at Thursday’s arraignment, finding him to be a flight risk.
Vivian Cedeno, an attorney for Almatitla, said she and her client plan to launch a vigorous defense. She asked that everyone reserve judgment as the legal process unfolds.
Building had over 50 violations, Department of Buildings says
Meanwhile, authorities have said no one should have been living on the upper floors where the 3-year-old girl, 62-year-old woman, 51-year-old man, and 61-year-old man died.
In addition to the deaths, surveillance video shows five people jumping from different windows to escape the fire, according to the complaint. They were taken to hospitals. One person who jumped out of a third-floor window reported suffering broken ribs, severe foot pain, and continued difficulty walking weeks later.
Other victims suffered extensive burn injuries. Two firefighters were also hurt when the staircase connecting the three floors collapsed. They were treated at a hospital for smoke inhalation and thermal burns.
As reported in a previous investigation, the city’s Department of Buildings (DOB) had issued more than 50 violations for the property since 2020. Records show inspectors found the illegal gambling setup on the first floor in 2023 and issued a $25,000 fine. The NYPD said the incident led to an arrest.
In Jan. 2026, the latest violation was for a failure to maintain. City investigators found extension cords running from the first to the third floors.
That discovery was surprising in itself, given that in 2020 the DOB had issued a partial vacate order for the second and third floors after finding illegal apartment conversions.
The department said no one should have been living up there whatsoever, but several people still were.
Full vacate orders were issued for that building and a second building damaged nearby.
When asked recently if the DOB can remove residents when a vacate order is issued, a representative said the agency does not physically remove people. Rather it is up to property owners to keep people out of the space.
About the Author
Discover more from USA NEWS
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
