74-year-old man’s death after apartments fire ruled a homicide
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A man rescued from an apartment fire last week later died, and police said Thursday his death was a homicide.
Indianapolis Fire Department was called around 3:25 p.m. Dec. 3 to the fire at apartments in the first block of North Traub Avenue. That’s West Washington Street and North Belmont Avenue on the near-west side.
Firefighters arrived to find heavy Fire and smoke showing from multiple floors of the apartment building. The fire crews found a 74-year-old man upstairs and pulled him out. He was taken to a hospital in critical condition. The man, who authorities have not identified, died Dec. 5 at a hospital.
His death was the eighth fire fatality in the Indianapolis Fire Department service district for 2020.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, the fire department said in a news release issued Monday. The fire initiated in a vacant apartment on the lower floor that reportedly was inhabited by squatters. Smoke, fire and water damaged six apartment, five of them occupied. Firefighters rescued two cats and two kittens from the blaze, and three other kittens died in the fire.
Police did not say how the man died. Arson detectives are looking into the case.
Another fire broke out at the same complex about 4:30 a.m. Monday. No injuries were reported in Monday’s fire.
IMPD said in a news release, “Anyone with information about this incident should call the IMPD Homicide Office at 317.327.3475 or Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317.262.8477 or (TIPS). Citizens can also download the mobile P3tips app for Apple or Android phones to submit a mobile tip, or go to www.CrimeTips.org to submit a web tip. You will remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1000 if the information leads to a felony arrest. Only tips submitted directly and anonymously to Crime Stoppers are eligible for these cash rewards. This release may be updated as more information becomes available. Information given via Crime Stoppers should be considered anonymous.”
