Man arrested in connection with deadly West Side fire

CHICAGO (WGN) – A man has been arrested and charged in connection with a West Side fire that left four people dead, including a young child.

The fire originally happened at around 2 a.m. Thursday, June 26 at an apartment building located in the 5200 block of West North Avenue in Austin.

Three of the victims rescued, a 5-year-old boy, a 32-year-old pregnant woman and a 76-year-old man, later died. Three others, two adults and a 4-year-old boy were hospitalized in critical condition.

A seventh victim, a 27-year-old woman who was unaccounted for following the fire, was found dead the next morning.

On Friday, July 11, Chicago police announced 23-year-old Lontray Clark had been arrested in Springfield on Wednesday, July 9 in connection with the deadly fire.

Clark has since been charged with the following offenses:

• Four felony counts – Murder – First Degree
• Four felony counts – Murder – Strong Probability of Death/Injury
• Four felony counts – Murder – Other Forcible Felony
• Two felony counts – Arson – Aggravated Arson/Know Person Present
• Two felony counts – Arson – Aggravated Arson/Bodily Harm
• Two felony counts – Attempted First Degree Murder
• One felony count – Residential Arson

No other information was released.