The NYPD arrested the person seen in the attached photograph, 23-year-old Avon Stephens, for questioning in connection to the massive blaze in Kings Plaza parking garage on Monday morning.
Reports say he is a homeless individual who often slept in the garage, and may have held a grudge after mall security banned him from the premises. He was seen on surveillance camera in the vicinity of the location around the time of the incident.
Officials released images of the man shortly before 5 p.m. and police officials announced he was in custody around 7:20 p.m.
The individual wanted for questioning has been apprehended. Thank you SRG @NYPDSpecialops for keen observation skills and all first responders @FDNY and our Arson & Explosion team #NYPD. Our detectives are still on the case, more work to do… @NYPDnews @NYPD63Pct pic.twitter.com/gohog39mMc
— Chief Dermot F. Shea (@NYPDDetectives) September 17, 2018
Officials had said earlier there were more than 120 vehicles being stored in the structure by local car dealerships.
The NY Post reports reports 132 of the 137 vehicles destroyed in the blaze belonged to one dealer, Mercedes-Benz of Brooklyn , including many high-end models.
Police tell YWN that on Monday morning at at approximately 8:30 AM, 911 received multiple calls reporting the fire at the parking garage of 5100 Kings Plaza (Kings Plaza Mall). Upon arrival, it was discovered that numerous vehicles had caught fire on the second floor of the garage.
The vehicles burned on the second and third floors of the parking garage in Marine Park.
The FDNY says 21 people were injured as the fire raged. All but three of them were firefighters. None of the injuries was considered life-threatening.
It took nearly three hours to get the fire under control. The mall was closed for the day.
BKLYN 3-ALARM 5100 KINGS PLZ, FIRE ON 2ND FLR , MULTIPLE VEHICLES ON FIRE IN THE PARKING GARAGE,
— FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) September 17, 2018
.@FDNY Four Alarm Fire: Kings Plaza & East 52 Street, Brooklyn. Expect smoke & traffic delays in area. People nearby avoid smoke, close windows. #fire Multilingual & ASL link: https://t.co/PosXqPHajp . https://t.co/d4fifMZzlT
— NYCEM – Notify NYC (@NotifyNYC) September 17, 2018
BREAKING: Fire at Kings Plaza shopping center is now a 6 alarm. Multiple marine units have been requested to try and fight the blaze from the water. pic.twitter.com/Kl5esS3B6m
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) September 17, 2018
#FDNY members are operating on scene of a 6-alarm fire at 5100 Kings Plaza in #Brooklyn. There are currently 2 non-life-threatening injuries to civilians, and 15 non-life-threatening injuries to Firefighters, reported. pic.twitter.com/6cDaYrn6tv
— FDNY (@FDNY) September 17, 2018
#FDNY members continue to operate on scene of a 6-alarm fire, 5100 Kings Plaza #Brooklyn pic.twitter.com/ayG2dke1YL
— FDNY (@FDNY) September 17, 2018
More than 50 #FDNY units and more than 200 members continue to operate on scene of a 7-alarm fire at 5100 Kings Plaza #Brooklyn pic.twitter.com/x66y0tAdpN
— FDNY (@FDNY) September 17, 2018
There are 21 injuries – 3 to civilians and 18 to Firefighters, none are life-threatening. Members have various levels of smoke inhalation and heat exhaustion, working under these conditions –#FDNY Commissioner Nigro on scene at 7-alarm fire, 5100 Kings Plaza #Brooklyn pic.twitter.com/qnHDuDzshc
— FDNY (@FDNY) September 17, 2018
***PHOTOS BELOW BY PHOTO DYNAMICS:***
(Charles Gross – YWN / AP)
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8 Responses
racial profiling as they said male black.
That is just a paid hack
A mob job
Why is a car dealer using a shopping mall to store their cars?
Wearing dark pants they say? Well, that’s a stretch. Kinda sorta partial pants.
The best thing about this article is that there are so many pictures of fire trucks!!!
Why is a car dealer using a shopping mall to store their cars? Because they pay the rent.
What can we learn from this terrible fire ,? One crazy man can destroy so much with the flick of his fingers. With one Aveirsh man can destroy a world. Gemar Chasima Tova
Homeless Man Started Kings Plaza Inferno</em. now has free Board & Accommodation for many years, @$100,000 per annum c/o the NY State tax payer, in prison.