A teen who had just graduated high school was killed and his brother was injured in a fire at a converted garage in Hyde Park Tuesday morning, and a woman who apparently lives with them is in custody, officials said.
The blaze was reported about 8:45 a.m. in the 4800 block of South Crenshaw Boulevard, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Responding firefighters found a converted garage in flames and the blaze was knocked down in about 15 minutes.
Once the fire was out, firefighters found a 17-year-old boy, one of four people who lived in the garage, dead inside.
A 22-year-old man, believed to be the boy’s brother, suffered smoke inhalation and and was taken to a hospital in good condition.
Neighbors told KTLA that the teen had just graduated high school and was getting ready to attend Cal State Los Angeles.
Neighbors also said that a woman, who apparently also lives with the siblings, was acting erratically and was seen with a lighter in her hand before the fire.
Neighbor Devon Simmons said the woman tried to lock the doors, turned the gas on and was trying to burn the house down with everyone inside.
“I went back in and I tried to go see if could save them, because I remembered they were back there and I couldn’t get in,” Simmons said.
LAPD Sgt. Denise Shaw confirmed a female is in custody in connection with the blaze.
Arson investigators and Los Angeles police officials were also on scene and the cause of the blaze is under investigation.
