LOWELL, Mass. (AP) - Three people have been charged in connection with a fire at a Lowell apartment building last month that left a 77-year-old man dead, injured six people and displaced 50 residents, authorities said.
Two suspects, including a 16-year-old boy, face murder charges, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said in a statement Thursday. They’re accused of setting fire to a trash bag with a cigarette lighter and then leaving the bag near an exit in a back hallway. The motive remains under investigation.
The fire reported just after 3 a.m. on Feb. 10 resulted in the death of third-floor resident Em Chak, and injured three more tenants, two firefighters and one police officer, Ryan said.
Julian Boykins, 20, and the 16-year-old boy, both of Lowell, face murder and other charges. Boykins was slated to be arraigned Friday. It was not clear if he had an attorney. The teen suspect wasn’t in custody.
The third defendant, Tanya Karadanis, 19, of Dracut, pleaded not guilty to tampering and conspiracy on Thursday, and bail was set at $5,000. It was not clear who represented her. She is Boykins’ girlfriend, and tried to destroy evidence at his direction, authorities said.
The arrests were made based on surveillance video, Ryan said.
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