Antonio Wright. (Baltimore police mugshot)
Baltimore police have identified a 26-year-old firebombing suspect as the city’s “public enemy number one.”
Wright turned himself in on March 20:
2 1/2 hours after police search wife’s home of public enemy #1 — Antonio Wright turns himself in – Wright was surrounded by family
Antonio Wright is accused of setting a house ablaze, killing two teenagers and injuring six other people, including a 4-year-old child.
VIDEO of what police say was the deadly firebombing of a Baltimore home with Molotov cocktails: t.co/NGsMoy1uEV
Wright is at large, and police have sought the public’s help in catching him.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. Wright Is Accused of Throwing Two Molotov Cocktails at the Home
WBAL-TV reported that Wright is accused of tossing two Molotov cocktails at the home as a family slept inside.
In a news conference, police said the Baltimore Fire Department received a call at about 5 a.m. about a fire in a row house. You can watch the news conference above.
T.J. Smith, chief of media relations for the Baltimore Police Department, said in the news conference that fire officials found two teenagers deceased inside the home once they arrived and started to put out the fire.
“We had immediate evidence on scene that this was a fire that was deliberately started,” he said. “There’s some type of accelerant that’s been used.”
He said the ATF was at the scene along with police arson experts and the Fire Department. “This was a deliberately set fire, and the individuals that were inside the home were apparently targeted,” Smith said.
Wright’s wife has been posting about him on Facebook.
Wife of “Public Enemy No 1” is posting about him on Facebook, incl videos of him making accusations about an allegedly corrupt officer:
The allegations she is making are not confirmed.
2. Police Have Called the Firebombing Suspect a ‘Psychopathic Predator’ Who Could Have Killed Eight People
Smith had strong words for the firebombing suspect.
“Obviously this is something that is just heartbreaking for this community to see a fatal fire, but to see a fatal fire that was deliberately set is a problem. And the bigger problem is some of these psychopathic predators that are out there killing people and whoever did this potentially could have killed eight people,” Smith said.
The police spokesman referred to plural suspects, although police have only accused Wright of being involved thus far.
“These suspects are people that should not walk the streets,” Smith said. “They went under the cover of darkness when a family is in there sleeping and lit a fire.”
3. A Previous Non-Fatal Shooting May Be Tied to the Blaze, Police Say
Smith said the motive is still under investigation, but police believe the home was targeted and are investigating whether an earlier shooting played a role.
“Two nights ago, we had a non-fatal shooting in this general area, and the victim of that non fatal shooting ran inside of this particular home that is the subject of this fire,” said Smith. “We are right now looking at that connectivity.”
He said police were reviewing video surveillance from the area.
4. An Adult Woman Was Injured When She Jumped From the Top Floor
Video from @BCFDL734 from the deadly fire on Greenmount Ave. @BaltimorePolice say this was intentionally set. No suspects yet. #WBAL
An adult woman managed to escape the blaze by jumping from the top floor of the three-story home. However, she is still recovering at a hospital.
“Right now we have two deceased people and we still have a woman is fighting for her life,” Smith said. “The cowardly act of the individuals who committed this crime need to be held accountable.”
Remnants of the fire at Greenmount and Preston.
He added: “If you look at the height of this house, that third floor, it’s really high up, so you’re talking at least a 30 foot jump and significant injuries were sustained as a result of that jump.”
The number of deaths could have been even worse, Smith said.
“There were a total of eight people inside the house,” he said, adding of the woman who jumped: “One person we know is in serious condition who jumped from the top floor of the home. The other people are at the hospital being treated, four of which have been admitted to the hospital at this time.”
5. Those Injured Range in Age From Children to Adults
Scene of this morning’s double fatal arson on Greenmount Avenue
Police said those injured but not killed were: A 38-year-old woman, who suffered non-life-threatening injuries; A 20-year-old woman, who suffered life-threatening injuries after jumping from the third level; A 17-year-old girl, who suffered non-life-threatening injuries; A 16-year-old girl, who suffered non-life-threatening injuries; An 11-year-old boy, who suffered non-life-threatening injuries; and a 4-year-old boy, who suffered non-life-threatening injuries