The smoke came from a fire on the building’s fifth floor, directly below Delaney’s apartment, started by a man who allegedly set his ex-girlfriend on fire.
Kehman Clarke, 25, faces several charges, including attempted murder in the second degree, for allegedly dousing Latisha Shaw with gasoline and lighting a match, after already setting fire to the stairwell between the fourth and fifth floors to prevent her escape.
According to a spokeswoman for the Queens District Attorney’s Office, Clarke will be charged with attempted murder, arson, two counts of assault, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, endangering the welfare of a child and criminal possession of a weapon.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the DA’s office was not sure when the arraignment will take place.
The floor and railings in the stairwell still had scorch and smoke marks as of Tuesday morning. Two doors on the fifth floor, including the victim’s apartment, were also still dark from the smoke.
According to a spokesperson at the FDNY, a call was received at 11:02 a.m. on Sunday and firefighters were on the scene three minutes later. The blaze was under control by 11:36 a.m.
According to the department’s report, six people were injured. Four were taken to Elmhurst Hospital Center, including at least three children. One person was taken to New York Presbyterian Hospital and one to Harlem Hospital Center. Both Shaw and Clarke were to be treated for burns.
Delaney’s son was among those taken to Elmhurst, where he was treated for smoke inhalation.
Delaney himself said he’s fine but added that his nostrils were still black.
Delaney has lived in the same Queensbridge building for all of his 34 years and said it is normally a calm place.
“People argue once in a while but that’s about it,” he said.
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