2 Teens Killed In Greenmount Avenue Arson: Police

BALTIMORE, MD — Two teens were killed in a fire Saturday morning in Baltimore that authorities are investigating as an arson. Six additional people were hospitalized from the blaze in the 1200 block of Greenmount Avenue, according to the Baltimore Police Department.

Firefighters were called to the residence at 5 a.m. on Saturday and found a home engulfed in flames, officials said.

Once crews had put out the fire, they reportedly found the bodies of two teens inside.

The boys were pronounced deceased at the scene and have not yet been identified as of Saturday afternoon, pending next of kin notification. Police said one is 16 or 17 years old and another is a 17 or 18 years old.

Officials said that six people — two women, two teen girls and two boys — survived the fire and were taken to area hospitals for treatment. The relationships among all those inside the home was still under investigation, police said Saturday afternoon.

One 20-year-old woman had life-threatening injuries after she jumped from the third story of the rowhouse, according to police.

All others had injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening, police said, identifying them as follows:

• 38-year-old woman
• 17-year-old girl
• 16-year-old girl
• 4-year-old boy
• 11-year-old boy

The blaze was intentionally set, with accelerant allegedly found at the scene. Fire investigators notified law enforcement officials, who are investigating the case as arson.

Authorities say they are looking for connections between an incident earlier in week and the fire

On Wednesday, the victim of a nonfatal shooting went into the house that was set ablaze Saturday, according to Baltimore Police Chief of Media Relations T.J. Smith.

"The individuals that were inside the home were apparently targeted," Smith said, adding that officials are still working to determine the reason they were targeted.

"Obviously, this is just something that is just heartbreaking to 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."

Anyone with information, who may have heard or seen anything in the area of the 1200 block of Greenmount Avenue around 5 a.m. on Saturday may contact 410-396-2100; text a tip to 443-902-4824; or call Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7LOCKUP.

Pictured, 1200 block of Greenmount Avenue at 6 a.m. on Saturday, March 18. Photo Credit: Baltimore Fire Department.