Trending Topics

2-year-old in critical condition after intruders set Detroit home on fire

After a near two-hour standoff, the intruders set the home on fire and attempted to escape, leaving the two children inside

By Robert Allen
Detroit Free Press

DETROIT — A 2-year-old girl is in critical condition after an armed home invasion Monday night on Detroit’s east side, where shots were fired and the house set ablaze, police said.

Police heard shots fired as they arrived on a call to the house at about 11:50 p.m. at the 700 block of Conner. The parents escaped the home, leaving the girl and a 4-year-old boy inside with the gunmen, police officer Dan Donakowski said.

A special response police team was called to the scene deemed a barricaded-gunmen situation, which lasted roughly two hours.

“After a period of time, one of the suspects set fire to the residence and attempted to escape,” Donakowski said.

Police chased the 37-year-old man on foot and arrested him, he said. Police say they believe there were two gunmen involved.

“We don’t know if the second suspect escaped or perished in the fire,” he said.

The children were rescued from the burning home and taken to a nearby hospital, where the girl is in critical condition from smoke inhalation and the boy is in stable condition. The parents weren’t injured.

Copyright 2016 the Detroit Free Press

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU