NY Post – February 18, 2015
by Frank Rosario and Kirstan Conley
A raging Bronx man held his family hostage and lit his family’s apartment on fire — sending nine cops, two firefighters, his mother and himself to the hospital on Tuesday, his brother and authorities said.
“My brother just got out of jail for armed robbery,” 19-year-old said Mohamado Hydila, 19, said. “He hasn’t been the same since he got out. Today, out of nowhere he asked me for my phone. Then he went crazy and attacked me. He punched and bit me. Then he went to attack my mom.”
The 18-year-old went ballistic around 2:05 p.m., attacking his older brother during an argument with a cell phone, according to police sources and family members.
Forty-five minutes later, he had slashed his mother across the face and started an inferno in their 21-story Webster Avenue high-rise, police and fire sources said.
The suspect allegedly swung the knife at his mom, cutting her face and his brother called 911 immediately. Cops showed up and tried negotiating but that failed, sources said.
“He went after my mom with a knife and chased her around the house. I’m bloody, she’s bloody. We need a lawyer man. He just went crazy.”
Family members were trapped inside and called neighbors and friends for help. Everyone except the wounded mom managed to get out, sources added. By 2:50 p.m., the firebug had set fire to the kitchen and was trying to light up the couch, police and fire sources added.
“The daughter called her father who is home in Tennessee,” said family friend Lahameh Batchilly, 52. “He called me to go over and see what was happening. ”
Batchilly, who runs an African market across the street, said he was standing in the building until the ambulance came and heard screaming but did not see any flames.”
“I saw smoke and the firemen arrived,” he said.
Smoke billowed out of the 21-story high-rise while firefighters burst into the apartment and doused the flames. They helped police take the suspect into custody. He and the mother were found in a back bedroom, fire officials said.
“I saw the ambulance take his mother out,” he said. “She had cuts on her face and eyes and neck. I don’t know if this happened before. When she was brought out, I saw her daughter was crying.”
Batchilly heard the wounded mom trying to console and soothe her distraught daughter, saying “Don’t cry. Anything can happen,” adding “Thank God” she survived.
The mother, who was born in Gambia, was taken to St. Barnabas Hospital for treatment of the slash wounds in stable condition, officials said.
Seven police officers, one sergeant, one captain and two firefighters were taken to Jacobi Hospital, for minor injuries, including smoke inhalation, authorities added.
The suspect was taken to Lincoln Hospital, where he is in police custody and being evaluated, sources said.
The brother claimed the suspect had just been released from jail for robbery, police did not release his name and that could not be immediately confirmed.
No comments yet.