Woman’s Death In LIC Apartment Fire Leads To Arrest: NYPD

LONG ISLAND CITY, QUEENS — A woman was arrested for arson after a fire that broke out inside an apartment in Queensbridge North Houses killed a woman in 2021, police said.

Tandika Wright, from Brooklyn, was arrested Friday after a second-story unit at 40-12 12th St. caught fire, killing Lavina Nolley on Dec. 9, 2021, the NYPD said.

The 36-year-old woman from Brownsville was charged with murder, manslaughter, assault, arson, and criminal possession of a weapon, authorities said.

Firefighters discovered Nolley’s body after extinguishing the flames in December and the 49-year-old was transported to Mount Sinai Hospital-Queens where she was pronounced dead, cops said.

The medical examiner said Nolley died from multiple lacerations to her body as well as smoke inhalation, police said. Five months after the incident, the FDNY determined the fire was deliberately set.