A two-year-old girl died from injuries sustained in a Tuesday night house fire, becoming the third fatality in a suspected arson that also killed her grandfather and 5-year-old brother and critically injured her 33-year-old mother.
Grieving family members remained outside the taped-off scene of the home in the 200 block of 15th Street on Thursday, where detectives were continuing to investigate.
Richmond police arrested 32-year-old Sergio Rivera Vega near the scene of the blaze. Rivera Vega lived at the home and was related to all four victims. The deceased were Rivera Vega’s father, nephew and niece, while the surviving victim is his sister.
Richmond Fire Chief Aaron Osorio said crews were initially dispatched to a separate structure fire on the same block shortly after 8 p.m. Tuesday. That initial blaze was brought under control before 9 p.m. While firefighters were conducting cleanup operations, bystanders alerted them to a second home on fire just two doors away. Osorio said the size of the second fire required a three-alarm response, drawing assistance from neighboring agencies. Crews located four victims inside the second residence. Three were transported to hospitals.
Authorities confirmed that Rivera Vega’s 47-year-old father was pronounced dead at the scene, while his 5-year-old nephew died from his injuries at the hospital. Richmond police confirmed Thursday that Rivera Vega’s 2-year-old niece also died from her injuries. The children’s 33-year-old mother remained hospitalized in critical condition Thursday.
Richmond Police Chief Timothy Simmons said the circumstances surrounding the second fire immediately raised suspicions, prompting investigators to respond to the scene. Rivera Vega was identified as a suspect and located near the scene before being taken into custody without incident.
Rivera Vega was initially booked on suspicion of two counts of murder and two counts of arson causing great bodily injury, with bail set at $2.5 million. Authorities had not announced updated charges as of Thursday morning following the toddler’s death.
Simmons extended condolences to the victims’ loved ones and the community, calling the incident an “unimaginable tragedy.”
Officials said the two fires are believed to be unrelated. A separate suspect was arrested in connection with the first fire, which authorities are also investigating as a suspected arson.
