GALVESTON, Texas — A man has been arrested and charged in connection with a house fire that killed one woman and injured three others in Galveston.
The fire was reported Feb. 29 around 1 a.m. at a home near Avenue H at 39th Street.
Firefighters found three people trying to escape the flames through a window and used a ladder to get in and pull them out. A fourth person, Renita Hawthorne, 55, was found unconscious.
All four people were taken to the trauma center at UTMB Health John Sealy Hospital where Hawthorne died, according to the City of Galveston. The conditions of the other three are unknown at this time.
Two firefighters had minor injuries and were taken to UTMB. One was treated and released, the other was held for observation.
Galveston fire investigators determined the fire was intentionally set. The fire is being investigated as an arson and homicide, the city said.
Galveston police said Courtney Allen Thompson, 20, of Galveston, was arrested Friday in the area of South Post Oak and West Fuqua Street in Houston.
He was booked into the Galveston County Jail and charged with capital murder and three counts of aggravated assault.
Thompson is being held on a $3.7 million bond. Additional charges are pending, according to police.
GPD detectives are still pursuing additional suspects.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call investigators at 409-765-3779, or Galveston Crime Stoppers at 409-763-8477.
Neighbors said Hawthorne lived in the home with her children.