Landlord Found Guilty of Murder After Tenants Die in Fire at Illegal Rental

A Washington, D.C. landlord, James G. Walker, has been convicted of two counts of second-degree murder and 27 building code violations following a fatal fire that claimed the lives of two tenants. The blaze, which broke out on August 18, 2019, trapped 40-year-old Fitsum Kebede and 10-year-old Yafet Solomen in the basement of an illegally operated rooming house. Prosecutors argued that Walker’s willful neglect of fire safety regulations directly led to the victims’ deaths.

Walker’s building at 708 Kennedy Street lacked a certificate of occupancy and failed to meet multiple fire safety requirements. Among the most dangerous violations were obstructed exits, including a double-keyed security gate that prevented escape. Additionally, the building lacked functional smoke alarms, and some rooms had no windows. Authorities had warned Walker about the hazardous conditions months before the fire, but he failed to make corrections.

The case was tried in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, with prosecution led by the offices of U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr. and D.C. Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb. The conviction underscores the serious consequences of disregarding fire safety laws and illegally renting substandard housing. Walker now faces sentencing for his role in the fatal fire.