A 46-year-old man who escaped a house fire in Southeast DC early Sunday morning has been arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder in connection with the blaze.
Police say that the man, Jerome Calvary Lewis, is responsible for the death of the four-year-old child in the fire.
That child, identified as Samauri Jenkins, was found unconscious and not breathing by firefighters responding to the fire at the home. She was pronounced dead Tuesday.
A press release from MPD is below.
February 22, 2013
Fire Death Ruled Homicide-Arrest Made: 2600 Block of 33rd Street, SE
(Washington, DC)-Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch have announced an arrest has been made in the fire death that occurred in the 2600 block of 33rd Street, SE.
On Sunday, February 17, 2013, at approximately 3:13 am, an officer reported seeing smoke and fire coming from a residence in the 2600 block of 33rd Street, SE. Once on the scene, police and fire department members were advised by family members that a female child was unaccounted for. A short time later, the female child, who was unconscious and not breathing, was located by members of the fire department. She was transported to a local hospital and admitted in critical condition. Several other residents of the home escaped the fire and were transported to local hospitals. A male toddler was treated and released, two adult females were admitted in stable condition, and an adult female was treated and released.
On Tuesday, February 19, 2013, the female child, 4 year-old Samauri Jenkins was pronounced dead.
On Wednesday, February 20, 2013, an autopsy was conducted and it has been determined that the child died from injuries sustained in the fire.
On Friday, February 22, 2013, the manner of the decedent’s death was ruled a homicide.
On February 22, 2013, 46-year-old Jerome Calvary Lewis, who also escaped the fire was arrested in the 500 block of Indiana Avenue NW, pursuant to a DC Superior Court arrest warrant charging him with Murder Two in the homicide of Samauri Jenkins.
The cause and origin of the fire is currently under investigation by the Arson Task Force, which includes members of MPD’s Homicide Arson Squad, members of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and members of the DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services.
