Man arrested on suspicion of murder, arson after body found in Kalihi house fire

Police have arrested a 58-year-old man on suspicion of second-degree murder and first-degree arson after a house fire in Kalihi this morning that left one man dead.

One body, later identified as a man, was discovered at the scene, according to police. The deceased’s name was not immediately released.

When firefighters arrived, they saw the suspect leaving the residence. He allegedly attacked one of the firefighters, said Homicide Lt. Phillip Lavarias.

Firefighters and a witness detained the suspect until police arrived.

Lavarias said the witness saw the suspect pour flammable liquid in one of the bedrooms.

The fire involved a multi-story, multi-family home at 2934 Kalihi Street, and was reported at 1:52 a.m., according to Acting Public Information Officer Capt. Kevin Mokulehua. There are 8 units on the property where the fire occurred.

Resident Angel Baldonado, 22, who lives next door to the unit where the fire occurred, said she heard a smoke detector go off and people shouting. She then saw flames emerging from the unit.

“I was really scared,” she said.

Fifty-two firefighters responded to the scene. Multiple residents escaped from the home before firefighters arrived, Mokulehua said.

Police closed the block around the fire in both directions but reopened the roadway before 6 a.m.

A damage estimate is pending.