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Homeless man charged with murder after dismantling stove in Bronx fire, NYPD says
By
Charles Lane
Published Jan 28, 2026
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Courtesy of the FDNY
By
Charles Lane
Published Jan 28, 2026
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A Bronx man was arrested Wednesday in connection with a fatal fire at a NYCHA housing complex that killed one person and left another in critical condition, police said.
Samuel Calderon, 55, who is homeless, was charged with murder, manslaughter and other offenses, according to the NYPD.
The fire broke out just after midnight on Saturday at the Boston Secor Houses on Bivona Street in the Bronx, authorities said. Firefighters responding to a 911 call found two men unconscious and unresponsive inside the building, officials said.
Ronald McCallister, 60, a resident of the building, was pronounced dead at the scene, officials said. A 37-year-old man was taken to a local hospital in critical condition. Five other people were hospitalized in stable condition, officials said.
Police said Calderon was dismantling a stove, which caused a gas leak that led to the fire.
Investigators are still determining a motive, according to police.
Calderon had not yet been assigned an attorney as of Wednesday evening.
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Charles Lane
Charles is a Day-of reporter focused on breaking news and enterprise. He’s very friendly and can be reached at [email protected], or more securely on whatsapp/signal 631-295-6715
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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