Evansville Police have arrested a man in connection with a house fire that claimed three lives, and injured eight others.
Police arrested 31-year-old Christopher Compton just a few blocks from the scene of Monday’s fire at 29 W. Franklin Street. Compton faces thee preliminarily charges of murder and four counts of arson with injury.
The blaze apparently started in the upstairs of the two-story house that had been converted into apartments. Four occupants were able to jump from second-floor windows, but two adults and one child were unable to escape the smoke and flames.
Police Sgt. Jason Cullum tells WNIN News all of the injured who were taken to hospitals are expected to survive.
Cullum says the tragedy is not only difficult for friends and family of the victims but for first responders too. He praises the work of Evansville firefighters, AMR paramedics, and police officers at the scene.