Teen, juvenile arrested after fireworks cause Gwinnett apartment fire
An 18-year-old and a juvenile face a felony charge after authorities determined fireworks were the cause of an apartment building fire that displaced nearly 30 people in Gwinnett County.
Gary Dewayne McKinley, 18, of Lawrenceville, and the minor face second-degree criminal damage to property charges in connection with Monday’s fire, Gwinnett fire spokesman Donald Strother said. AJC.com only identifies juveniles who are charged as adults.
The fire partially collapsed a building at the Landmark at Bella Vista Apartment Homes off Satellite Boulevard in unincorporated Duluth, AJC.com previously reported. In total, 29 people had their homes destroyed after the 10-unit building caught fire.
RELATED: 29 displaced by massive fire, partial collapse at Gwinnett apartment building
The two suspects were arrested Tuesday afternoon after they were interviewed by fire investigators, Strother said. Both were allegedly seen igniting fireworks in the roadway Monday evening. Fire crews responded to the scene about 8:30 p.m. after receiving multiple 911 calls.
Strother said the two admitted to investigators that they left spent fireworks on the wooden railing and wood floor as they went inside an apartment that belonged to a friend who was out of town.
“This incident is a prime example of why it is important to use fireworks responsibly and in accordance with applicable laws and safety regulations,” Strother said in a news release.
Huge fire at landmark Bella Vista
Posted by Ray Tadeo Jr on Monday, December 30, 2019
No one was inside the damaged building after firefighters extinguished the blaze, but two people were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. A third was assessed at the scene.
Because three residents were injured, Strother said investigators charged the two with the felony due to their “reckless actions.”
The American Red Cross is assisting the 11 families impacted by the fire by providing lodging, clothing and food, spokeswoman Sherry Nicholson said in a statement.
RELATED: About 30 displaced after fire damaged College Park apartment building
“Caseworkers will continue to work with the families to help them get back on their feet and to provide additional recovery resources available in the community,” Nicholson said.
McKinley was booked into the Gwinnett County Detention Center, where he was granted a $9,000 bond, jail records show.
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About the Author
Zachary Hansen, a Georgia native, covers economic development and commercial real estate for the AJC. He's been with the newspaper since 2018 and enjoys diving into complex stories that affect people's lives.
