Pittsburgh police have charged two people in connection with a fatal house fire early Wednesday morning that killed three people, including a 4-year-old girl, in a house on the city's east side.
Martell Smith, 41, is charged with the homicides of 4-year-old Chy'enne Manning, Shamira Staten, 21, and Sandra Lynn Carter Douglas, 58.
A second suspect, Taisia Malloy, 26, is charged with arson, although investigators said Smith set the house on fire.
Smith is facing three counts of criminal homicide, several related arson charges and narcotics charges, police said.
Malloy, who was also arrested in connection with the arson, is facing charge of aggravated assault on an officer, too.
Investigators believe the fire was allegedly set in retaliation for a fight at a Penn Hills bar.
According to court documents, when Smith and Malloy were arrested, they smelled of gasoline.
The documents also reveal Smith was captured on surveillance video buying gasoline from a Sunoco.
The fire was so intense that it caused parts of the roof to collapse, and, at times, the home could not be seen through the flames and heavy smoke.
Both Smith and Malloy are in the Allegheny County Jail.
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