Suspect arrested for homicide, arson after child and man killed in Richmond house fire: police

RICHMOND, Calif. (KGO) -- A man has been arrested in an arson investigation after a tragic house fire in Richmond killed a child and another man, with two others in critical condition, Richmond police say.

"Senseless, horrible, tragic event."

This was how Richmond Police Department's Lt. Joseph England referred to the fire that happened late Tuesday night at around 9:15 p.m.

UPDATE: 2 kids, 47-year-old grandfather killed after Richmond man allegedly sets family house on fire

Investigators say it was arson, and it left a 5-year-old boy and a 47-year-old man dead.

England said a 33-year-old woman and her 2-year-old daughter were also in the house and are currently at the hospital in critical condition.

"Someone has lost their child. Someone has lost a family member. A 5-year-old should not be dead. A 2-year-old should not be in critical condition right now," England said.

Richmond officials also pointed out that there was another fire at a house two doors down just 45 minutes prior at around 8:30 p.m. In that separate case, no one was hurt and a woman was arrested.

The second fire is being investigated as an arson and homicide case.

"The second fire that was mentioned was immediately considered suspicious, because it occurred only a few houses away from the first fire and began within a short period of time while emergency personnel was still responding to the first fire," said Richmond Police Chief Timothy Simmons.

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From police scanner audio, crews could be heard saying: "We've got a brand-new fire. Home next door fully involved."

Police, who were scouring the area looking for clues on Wednesday, believe it was a family member who started the fatal fire, someone they arrested Tuesday night. They say the suspect, a 32-year-old man, was also a resident of the house.

"As our detectives were on scene, one of the detectives saw the suspect standing behind our yellow tape at the scene, so he was safely taken into custody and arrested," England said.

The suspect is said to be the son of the man who died in the fire and is also the uncle of the two children.

The suspect was booked in the Richmond Police Department jail on two counts of murder and two counts of arson with great bodily injury

"It's shocking. Yeah, it's really sad," said Gevin Rishi, who lives nearby.

"Look at this neighborhood. That's not okay," said another neighbor.

Police say there is no threat to public safety and that all those responsible are in custody.

"It has taken the life of a man and a young child, while leaving a woman and another young child literally fighting for their lives," Simmons said.