Man reportedly angry about marijuana smoke, accused of spraying hallway with gas. Child among six injured while fleeing second floor.
Man reportedly angry about marijuana smoke, accused of spraying hallway with gas. Child among six injured while fleeing second floor.
Man reportedly angry about marijuana smoke, accused of spraying hallway with gas. Child among six injured while fleeing second floor.
A 44-year-old Milwaukee man faces multiple felony charges after allegedly setting fire to his apartment building on Jan. 16, injuring several residents, including a child.
Keith Alan Luko, was charged with arson of a building, first-degree reckless injury, and five counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety in connection with the fire near West Loomis Rd. and West Fardale Ave.
Authorities arrested Luko on Jan. 16 after he allegedly admitted to starting the fire. According to the complaint, Luko told police he “was angry about his neighbors smoking marijuana” and “poured gasoline in the hallway” before igniting it with a lighter.
The Milwaukee Fire Department responded to the building early Friday morning and encountered “heavy fire conditions at the front (south) door landing area,” the complaint stated. Fire investigators later determined the fire “was intentionally set” after examining smoke patterns, heat damage, and electrical components.
Surveillance footage from the building allegedly shows Luko moving personal belongings to the front entrance before the fire. The video depicts Luko “running out of the doorway with a large flame visible behind him in the front entrance,” according to the complaint. Luko then fled the scene on foot.
The building owner Luko from the surveillance footage and told investigators Luko resided in the building with his mother.
Multiple residents were injured in the fire. A 9-year-old sustained a broken pelvis after being thrown from a second-floor window to escape the flames. The child’s parents also jumped from the window, sustaining cuts, bruises, and scratches.
“The door was extremely hot to the touch,” the child’s mother told investigators. “She could smell smoke coming from the hallway.”
Another resident was hospitalized for severe smoke inhalation. Her daughter suffered lacerations to her shins while escaping. Luko’s mother broke her ankle after dropping from a window to escape the fire.
“She stated that she pushed the screen out of her window and that she just ‘let herself down’ and just dropped to the ground,” the complaint stated.
Luko faces one count of arson of a building, a Class C felony punishable by up to 40 years in prison and a $100,000 fine.
He also faces one count of first-degree reckless injury, a Class D felony carrying a maximum sentence of 25 years and a $100,000 fine.
The five counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety are Class F felonies, each punishable by up to 12 years and six months in prison and a $25,000 fine.
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