Man killed in arson at Parfaite Harmonie, three injured

An early morning fire, said to be the result of arson, yesterday consumed a house at 201 Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara, leaving one man dead, three people injured and five total homeless; a man has since been arrested and is in police custody.

The dead man’s name has been given as Jason Munroe and residents said he had lived in the area, but not at the house which was burned.

The residents said it must have been about 01:00 hrs yesterday that they heard loud noises coming from the said property, the apparent sounds of fighting. They later heard screaming and saw the house on fire.

A man who lives nearby, but who did not want to be identified, said he was awakened by the consistent barking of his dogs and went outside to quiet them when he heard the disturbance coming from the house. Soon after he heard loud screams and as he looked outside he saw the building engulfed in flames.

Lula George, whose stepfather transported the injured to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, said that she looked outside and saw three persons run out of the house.

Stabroek News understands that two teenaged girls, a boy and a baby lived in the house with their mother, who was said to have been at work at the time.

Police said in a press release that they were investigating the death of “Jason, age and address unknown.”

The police said investigations had revealed that “a man entered the house through a window. A fight subsequently ensued between the man and Jason, an occupant of the house who he had knocked unconscious. He then set the building afire and escaped.”

Residents said that while they did not really know the occupants of the house well, from the shouting, it appeared as though one of the girls might have been romantically involved with both Munroe and the man who is now in police custody.

Meanwhile, George said that one of the teenage girls’ night clothes were on fire as she ran out of the house, while the second girl had injuries to her head.

She said that her stepfather transported them to the West Demerara Regional Hospital. They were later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital and admitted as patients to the Burn Care Unit, where they were being treated up to last evening. This newspaper was unable to make contact with their mother or other relatives.

Stabroek News understands that Munroe’s mother later identified his charred remains at the Ezekiel Funeral Home on the West Demerara.

George said Munroe was a very quiet person.