Arson Charges Filed Against Wilkinsburg Man for Apartment Fire
A man faces felony arson charges linked to a summer fire in Wilkinsburg, raising concerns about safety in the community.
Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, Arson, Fire, Zion Eleam
Wilkinsburg: Police have charged a man with multiple felonies for starting a fire in an apartment this past summer. The incident took place on June 21, and it caused quite a stir in the neighborhood.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene on South Avenue, where flames were tearing through an apartment unit. It was a pretty intense situation, and thankfully, no one was seriously hurt.
The guy in question, Zion Eleam, was renting the unit where the fire started. Investigators found that the fire ignited in two separate spots in the living room, which is pretty suspicious.
One fire began in a closet, while the other flared up along a wall. The fire marshal ruled out any natural or accidental causes, which makes it even more concerning.
Interestingly, Eleam was the only one in his unit when the fire broke out, although two others were nearby. He initially claimed the fire started when his phone charger exploded, but that story didn’t hold up.
According to the fire marshal, there was no evidence of anything plugged into the outlet. In fact, Eleam later admitted to starting the fire himself with a lighter and even setting his curtains ablaze.
Charges were officially filed against him on Tuesday, and it looks like he’s in some serious trouble now.