Man charged with arson, murder after woman killed in fire that spread to multiple Philadelphia homes
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A man was charged with murder and arson following a multi-building fire that broke out in the Kensington section of Philadelphia that killed a 66-year-old woman and displaced 23 residents Friday morning, according to police.
In an update Friday night, Philadelphia police identified the woman as 66-year-old Evelyn Payne, who was found unresponsive by firefighters in a second-floor bedroom in one of the homes.
Police also identified the man arrested at the scene Friday morning as 38-year-old Shadeek McDowell. McDowell was taken into custody after real-time crime cameras caught a man stepping off the front porch of one of the homes Friday morning.
McDowell has been charged with murder, arson, aggravated assault, simple assault and other related offenses, according to police.
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel told CBS News Philadelphia that technology like real-time crime cameras is helping solve crimes that historically the department was not able to do.
"Right now we have over 2,400 subscribers, so we have our police officers looking at the cameras....our investigators looking at the cameras," Bethel said.
The fire happened on the 1800 block of East Russell Street, just off Kensington Avenue around 4:30 a.m. and spread to multiple homes, according to the Philadelphia Fire Department.
"I started screaming to my wife and my son, 'It's a fire.' She didn't believe me ... 'It's a fire let's get out of here,'" said Carlos Rivera.
Rivera said he was jolted out of bed when his bedroom started filling with smoke. When he looked outside, he said the four homes next to his were being consumed by fast-moving flames.
"As soon as I hit the door, I forgot I left my cat in there and I tried to go back inside," Rivera said.
According to the fire department, firefighters were on the scene within minutes, but they were met with flames shooting into the air as several people were trying to escape.
"Multiple things are going on at the same time...we're in each one of the dwellings trying to put the fire out in addition to making saves off the second-floor roof," said Assistant Deputy Commissioner Derek Bowmer, who added at least five people were taken to the hospital with burns and minor injuries.
Hours after the fire, Payne's loved ones were consoling each other in the street.
"My thoughts and prayers go out to them because I know what it's like to lose somebody," said Anthony Viglianese, who lives around the corner.
The fire took nearly an hour to place under control. Fire officials said around 80 firefighters, medics and other personnel workers responded to the blaze.
Fire officials said the responding firefighters did not hear any smoke alarms going off inside the homes.
A very difficult morning in Kensington. PFD made multiple rescues from several homes damaged by a fire that took nearly an hour to place under control. Sadly, one person did not survive. Five people received EMS care and were taken to a hospital. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/n4Ohyb7fNV
— Philadelphia Fire (@PhillyFireDept) August 23, 2024
The Red Cross Philadelphia shared on X they're helping six families, 23 people in total, who were displaced because of the fire.
Rivera is thankful his family is safe, and he was able to find his cat, Pikilina, hiding in the basement.
"My house, that's all material, but you cannot replace a life," Rivera said.
Philadelphia Police Department's Homicide Division is now handling the criminal investigation.