Accused St. John's arsonist said 'I did it' says witness
Neighbour says he woke up to find a teenager using his phone early Sunday morning
A man who lives across the street from a house that burned down in St. John's early Sunday morning says the 16-year-old accused of starting the fire came to his home to call the authorities while flames tore through the downtown boarding house.
Glenn Downey told CBC News he woke up at 4 a.m. on Sunday to the sound of his doorbell. He said that by the time he got downstairs, someone was already inside.
"The chap from across the street who allegedly set the fire was in my living room, using the phone to call in the fire and admit to the police that he had done it," said Downey.
That person is 16-years old. Downey says the teen was renting a room in the boarding house at 101 Springdale Street, the home that burned down.
"He said, 'lost it boy, I lost it.' That's all he said, then he left. He came back a couple minutes later and asked if I had a fire extinguisher," said Downey.
By the time Downey found one, the young man was already back outside.
"He seemed to be calling out somebody's name, at the house. I can only assume that it was one of the people that was still inside," said Downey. Police said a 54-year-old man was found dead in the house.
Downey said the 16-year-old who was in his home is the same 16-year-old who is in custody, charged with arson and disregard for human life.
Police said the teenager is facing three counts of arson, disregard for human life and one count of arson relating to property damage.
Apart from the victim, there were four other people in the house at the time of the fire. Three of the people were sent to hospital where they were treated for non-life threatening injuries.
Police said an autopsy will be performed on the victim to determine the exact cause of death. The police said the accused could face more charges pending the results of that investigation.
The residential home suffered extensive damage, and the Canadian Red Cross and the Salvation Army are providing assistance to those displaced by the fire.