(RepublicanPress.org) – Firefighters put their lives on the line every day to protect American families from accidental and intentional fires all across the country. The New Orleans Fire Department (NOFD) is no different, covering nearly 300 square miles in Greater New Orleans and serving about 364,000 people who live there. Recently, they received an emergency call from their district, and, despite the firefighters’ heroic efforts, the incident ended in tragedy.
Just before midnight on October 17, a mother phoned 911 to report that the father of her three children was going to burn their house down. She called on her way to the scene. CBS News reported that soon after that call, a fire was reported at a residence in New Orleans East — exactly where the mother was headed. When firefighters arrived, they found three children in the home — one had already passed away, and the other two died shortly afterward. On October 18, police arrested the children’s father, 29-year-old Joseph Washington, for the crime.
The father of three children killed in a New Orleans house fire has been arrested in connection with their deaths, police said.
— CBS News (@CBSNews) October 19, 2023
The suspect reportedly tried to evade police by switching cars and jumping off an overpass, but the officers pursued him and took him into custody.
The New Orleans Police Department held a press conference after Washington’s arrest, explaining that the Child Abuse Unit immediately began an investigation. They determined the suspect would be charged with three counts of second-degree murder, three counts of second-degree cruelty to a juvenile, and one count of aggravated arson. The victims were eight, five, and three.
The officer speaking during the press event confirmed there was at least one domestic violence call to the residence prior to the incident. However, he stated the matter was under an ongoing investigation, so there weren’t many other details available for the public at the time. Interim NOPD Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said the community was “outraged” by the “tragic and senseless” deaths of the three kids.
CBS News reported that the coroner is still determining the children’s cause of death.
Copyright 2023, RepublicanPress.org
