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5 dead in fire, 3 had throats cut
NEW YORK, Three of the five people found dead Thursday after a fire raced through their Staten Island, N.Y., apartment had their throats slashed, officials said.
The five victims were identified as Leisa Jones and her two sons and two daughters, The New York Times reported. Investigators say the oldest child, a 14-year-old son named C.J., slashed the throats of his two sisters -- Britany, 10, and Melony, 7 -- before starting the fire and then slashing his own throat. Their 2-year-old brother Jermaine Sinclair, also died but his throat was not cut.
Police spokesman Paul Browne said a straight razor was found under C.J.'s arm.
A fire department official said the blaze had been set intentionally. There did not seem to be any smoke detectors in the second-floor apartment, fire officials said.
The fire gutted much of the home, but the other residents of the building all escaped, the newspaper said.
Neighbors said they were awakened by shouts of "There's a fire, there's a fire!" and saw flames shooting from the apartment's windows, the newspaper reported.
"You could see the flames shooting up in the air. Nobody heard any smoke detectors," said Christine Valentin, a neighbor.
NEW YORK, Three of the five people found dead Thursday after a fire raced through their Staten Island, N.Y., apartment had their throats slashed, officials said.
The five victims were identified as Leisa Jones and her two sons and two daughters, The New York Times reported. Investigators say the oldest child, a 14-year-old son named C.J., slashed the throats of his two sisters -- Britany, 10, and Melony, 7 -- before starting the fire and then slashing his own throat. Their 2-year-old brother Jermaine Sinclair, also died but his throat was not cut.
Police spokesman Paul Browne said a straight razor was found under C.J.'s arm.
A fire department official said the blaze had been set intentionally. There did not seem to be any smoke detectors in the second-floor apartment, fire officials said.
The fire gutted much of the home, but the other residents of the building all escaped, the newspaper said.
Neighbors said they were awakened by shouts of "There's a fire, there's a fire!" and saw flames shooting from the apartment's windows, the newspaper reported.
"You could see the flames shooting up in the air. Nobody heard any smoke detectors," said Christine Valentin, a neighbor.