Earlier today, Atahualpa Rodriguez admitted to the heinous act of firebombing an apartment building in Flushing, Queens, in a plea that could land him between five to twenty years in prison. The guilty plea was entered before United States District Judge Allyne R. Ross, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York.
The arson attack, which took place on January 12, stemmed from a personal dispute and resulted in over one million dollars in damage, involved FDNY firefighters who suffered injuries while combating the fire—one was caught when a section of the ceiling collapsed on him, another had first-degree burns and another inhaled contaminated air while they worked diligently to put out the flames that could have claimed countless lives because the building housed approximately 175 units.
"Today, the defendant admitted that he deliberately set fire to an apartment building in the pre-dawn hours while many tenants were sleeping. The fire caused the destruction of one apartment unit, damage to surrounding units, and injuries to the brave first responders who battled the blaze," stated United States Attorney Breon Peace, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. "His actions showed complete disregard for human life and placed hundreds of people in grave danger over a personal dispute."
FDNY Commissioner Robert S. Tucker and NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch expressed relief at Rodriguez's conviction, emphasizing the gravity of the crime and its aftermath. Commissioner Tucker stated to the U.S. Attorney's Office, "Deliberately setting a fire is an egregious crime that deserves severe punishment." Commissioner Tisch commended the efforts of the first responders who put themselves in harm's way, as well as the NYPD’s Arson and Explosion Squad, FDNY fire marshals, and ATF agents for bringing Rodriguez to justice.
The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Adam Amir with Rodriguez set to be sentenced for a crime that, as the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York outlined, posed a significant risk to both the residents of the building and the firefighters who valiantly responded to the emergency call in the early hours of the morning.
