House Fire Masks Murders in NJ Town

Police say a fire that left four dead in Irvington, NJ, this morning was set to destroy evidence of a multiple shooting earlier this morning, the Newark Star-Ledger reports. Two teenagers with bullet wounds were among the dead; a 13-year-old shot in the head was pronounced dead at the three-family house on the border with Newark; an 18-year-old died in hospital.

"This is an absolutely horrific case. No community should suffer what these familes are going through right now,” the county prosecutor said. “We do believe that the fire was set to mask the shootings—and now homicides—in the apartment.” The fire started as early as 6 am on the first level; residents from the second and third floors escaped unharmed. (More murder stories.)