A 64-year-old man has been charged with three counts of murder following a deadly house fire in Temple City, California. Xuanhan Zhang was arraigned Wednesday in Los Angeles on murder charges, as well as two counts of attempted murder, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Details of the Incident
The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon when firefighters responded to a blaze in the 6000 block of Sultana Avenue. After extinguishing the fire, authorities discovered the bodies of two men and one woman inside the residence. Two other individuals were found outside with critical burn injuries.
Key Case Facts
- The fire was reported around 4:50 p.m. and contained within 30 minutes
- Seven people resided at the property, which contained four separate homes
- Zhang allegedly started the fire deliberately
- He was arrested early Monday morning after being identified as a person of interest
- If convicted, Zhang faces a possible sentence of life in prison without parole
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is treating the deaths as homicides. The identities of the victims have not yet been released to the public.
This tragic event has shocked the Temple City community and raised concerns about fire safety in multi-unit residential properties. As the investigation continues, authorities urge anyone with information to come forward to assist in the case.
