A Columbus mother is behind bars after police say she set a fire in an occupied apartment while four of her children were still inside. Hawa Hassan is facing a first‑degree felony charge of aggravated arson, along with misdemeanor domestic‑violence and assault counts, and court records indicate she admitted to starting the blaze. The four minors are now in the care of Franklin County Children Services, and officials say no one was hurt. Hassan remains in custody ahead of an arraignment set for Monday morning.
According to court documents obtained by ABC 6, several people, including minors, were inside the unit when investigators concluded that a bedroom in the apartment had been intentionally set on fire. Columbus police say officers detained Hassan at the scene. Witnesses told officers they found four children who reported that their mother had started the blaze with a lighter and told them she was "going to kill them all." The report notes that a booking photo is credited to the Franklin County Sheriff's Office.
Charges and legal exposure
Under Ohio law, aggravated arson covers conduct that "creates a substantial risk of serious physical harm" or damages an occupied structure, as detailed in the Ohio Revised Code. State sentencing rules establish that a first‑degree felony in Ohio carries a possible prison term of at least three years and up to eleven years, with the exact punishment left to the court and any aggravating or mitigating factors, according to the Ohio Revised Code.
What is next for the family and the case
The four children have been placed with Franklin County Children's Services while investigators with the Columbus Division of Fire and Columbus police continue to examine what happened inside the apartment. Hassan remained in custody Saturday and is scheduled to appear in court Monday at 9 a.m., according to ABC 6. Authorities say anyone with information about the incident can contact Columbus police, and the county children's agency lists its intake and hotline numbers on its website for people concerned about child welfare.
