Homeless woman arrested for setting three arson fires in Queens, injuring three people, according to police.

Detectives in New York have apprehended a 36-year-old woman in connection with a series of arson incidents that occurred in Queens, resulting in injuries to three individuals. The suspect, identified as Shaniqua Fort, faces multiple charges, including three counts of attempted manslaughter, as well as assault, arson, criminal mischief, and petit larceny. The incidents took place in the vicinity of Flushing and Grand Avenues in Maspeth around 9 p.m. on Monday.

According to police reports, the arson spree commenced inside 888 Kitchen, a Chinese restaurant located on Flushing Avenue near 61st Street. Fort allegedly used a flammable liquid to ignite the fire, which rapidly spread to the restaurant’s second floor. As a result, a 26-year-old man and a 27-year-old woman became trapped inside a nearby apartment. The man sustained an injury to his hand while trying to break a window to escape, while the woman injured her leg when she leaped to the street below.

Emergency medical services transported both victims to Elmhurst Hospital, where they are expected to recover from their injuries. Additionally, a firefighter sustained an injury while combating the blaze, which was extinguished within just 20 minutes.

Following the initial fire, Fort proceeded west along Flushing Avenue, setting multiple rubbish fires outside D’Angelo Funeral Home, located near 65th Street, and subsequently at the Maspeth Jewish Center about three blocks away on Grand Avenue. Police were able to quickly extinguish these smaller fires, and damage in these locations was reported to be minimal. The entire sequence of events, from the first fire to the last, unfolded over the course of approximately 10 minutes.

Fort was arrested shortly after the series of fires, although she initially had no identification on her, delaying the charges against her. The motive behind her targeting of these specific locations remains unclear. Local Councilman Phil Wong described Fort as being emotionally disturbed, though no further details were provided. Her arraignment in Queens Criminal Court is expected to take place shortly.

Media News Source emphasizes the importance of community safety and vigilance as authorities continue to investigate the incident. The swift response by emergency services and law enforcement highlights the coordination required to manage such unpredictable situations.