Investigator Concludes Cause of Double-Homicide Fire Undetermined

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The trial of a homicide defendant allegedly responsible for two burn deaths continued with testimony about the cause of the blaze on Feb. 11 before DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman.

James Walker, 66, is charged with two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of involuntary manslaughter for his alleged involvement in a fire that caused the deaths of 40-year-old Fitsum Kebde and nine-year-old Yafet Solomen at the 700 block of Kennedy Street, NW, on Aug. 18, 2019.

The victims screamed for help as they tried to get out of the inferno but were trapped by locked doors.

Prosecutors called an agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) who explained to the jury how he was able to find the origin point of the fire, which was in a basement bedroom of Walker’s property on or above a mattress.

The witness took two cans of fire debris from the scene and tested the contents for ignitable liquids, but did not find any.

The witness testified that although he and his team searched for potential ignition properties nearest to the origin, they were unable to conclude how the fire started. He confirmed that it was not an electrical fire and it was not caused by smoking materials. The cause of the fire is labeled as ‘undetermined’ on the witness’ report.

Under questioning from Elliot Queen, Walker’s defense attorney, the witness stated that after there were reports of fire code violations in the building, someone from the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DCRA) went out to the property, but was “unable to gain access to the location.” In his opening statements, Queen stated that once the report was filed, nobody showed up to inspect the property.

Parties will reconvene on Feb. 12.