4 Dead After Man Lit Building On Fire Because Ex And Friend Were Dating: Reports

CHICAGO — A 23-year-old Chicago man is charged with 19 felony counts after he lit an apartment building on fire that was occupied by his friend and ex-girlfriend, after learning they were dating, reports said, adding the blaze killed four people, among them a pregnant woman and a young boy.

Lontray Clark was arrested July 9 in Springfield after an investigation into the June 26 arson in the 5200 block of West North Avenue in Chicago, according to police.

The victims included 5-year-old Jayceon Henry, 32-year-old Regina Brown Henry, 28-year-old Destiny Brown Henry and 76-year-old Brad Cummings, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. Regina Brown Henry was three months pregnant, Jayceon Henry’s mother and Destiny Brown Henry’s sister, according to the Sun-Times, which added that Cummings was an editor for The Voice Newspapers.

Another four people were hurt, including a 4-year-old boy, the Sun-Times reported, noting the child remained intubated in the hospital as of Saturday.

Clark threw Molotov cocktails into the building around 2 a.m., according to the newspaper, which reported that his friend and his ex were both in the building at the time but that they survived.

Among the many charges Clark faces are four counts of first-degree murder, two counts of attempted first-degree murder and two counts of aggravated arson with a known person present, police said.

Clark’s public defender said there is no surveillance footage of Clark at the scene, nor does he have a violent criminal history, according to the Sun-Times, which noted that Clark’s cousin testified that Clark told the cousin that he had lit the fire.