April 9, 2026 QUEENS, NY — Justice has finally come knocking for the families of four innocent victims—including a 3-year-old boy—who were burned alive in a fast-moving Flushing house fire last month.

On Wednesday, the NYPD Warrant Squad descended on an Elmhurst residence to take 38-year-old Roman Amatitla into custody. What followed was a rap sheet so staggering it has sent shockwaves through the borough: eight counts of murder, 12 counts of assault, and eight counts of arson.

A Night of Absolute Terror

The nightmare began in the early hours of March 16 at 132-05 Avery Avenue. According to investigators, Amatitla deliberately ignited a fire in the building’s vestibule. Because the house had been plagued by illegal apartment modifications and cluttered conditions, the flames transformed the structure into a literal death trap in seconds.

When fire crews finally breached the inferno, the scene was one of unimaginable tragedy. Among the dead were:

• Sihan Yang, just 3 years old.

• Chengri Cui, 50.

• Two additional victims, aged 61 and 63, whose names are being withheld pending family notification.

Four other residents were lucky to escape with their lives but remain scarred by the injuries sustained in the heat.

"No Motive, No Connection"

Perhaps the most terrifying detail to emerge from the 109th Precinct is the utter randomness of the attack. Police sources reveal that Amatitla had no known connection to the building and did not know a single person living inside.

He didn't live there. He didn't work there. He simply set it ablaze and walked away.

When detectives led a handcuffed Amatitla out of the precinct to face a judge, the alleged mass murderer kept his head bowed, refusing to offer a single word of apology or explanation for the lives he allegedly snuffed out.

From "Beer Run" to Mass Murder

In a bizarre twist that highlights the suspect’s erratic behavior, Amatitla isn't just facing murder and arson charges. His massive indictment also includes four counts of petit larceny.

Sources say the man responsible for the deadliest fire in recent Queens history was also busy stealing beer from local shops. It is a haunting juxtaposition: a man allegedly obsessed with petty theft while simultaneously orchestrating the destruction of an entire multi-generational household.

A Building on the Brink

While Amatitla pulled the metaphorical trigger, the building itself was already a "slew of violations." The illegal modifications—common in overcrowded sections of Queens—hampered rescue efforts and likely contributed to the speed at which the fire consumed the victims.

Amatitla remains in custody without bail. For the families of little Sihan Yang and the others lost on Avery Avenue, the long road to a final verdict has only just begun.