Inset: Jake Licoski (J. Reuben Long Detention Center). Background: The area in South Carolina where Liscoski allegedly tried to kill his roommates (Google Maps).
A 55-year-old man in South Carolina is accused of trying to kill his three roommates, allegedly attempting to burn them alive because they refused to renew the lease on their shared residence. Jake Licoski was taken into custody over the weekend and charged with three counts of attempted murder and one count each of first-degree arson, failure to stop for a blue light, and transporting in a vehicle with a broken seal, records show.
Police and firefighters responded at midnight on Sunday, Aug. 31, to a reported structure fire at an apartment complex on West Flintlike Court in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, NBC affiliate WMBF reported.
When police arrived at the scene, firefighters reportedly informed them that it appeared as though it was “an intentionally set fire” that began while three people were still inside. Multiple firefighters told police that two of the victims had identified the likely arsonist as the man behind the wheel of a nearby car.
Love true crime? Sign up for our newsletter, The Law&Crime Docket, to get the latest real-life crime stories delivered right to your inbox.
When one of the firefighters at the scene approached the vehicle and asked the driver if he was responsible for setting the fire, the man allegedly “just started laughing and drove away,” according to a police report obtained by Florence, South Carolina, ABC affiliate WPDE.
Multiple units began searching for the suspect”s vehicle so investigators could question the driver, whom they identified as Licoski.
One of the victims, a female roommate, who was inside during the fire, told authorities they believed they knew why Licoski was angry and allegedly set the building aflame.
“The three victims were planning on moving out soon and would not be renewing their lease,” police reportedly wrote in an affidavit. “The arrestee was unhappy with this and did not have anywhere else to live. [The female roommate] stated that [Licoski] was very upset about it and believed that it was the reason he had lit the fire.”
The victim went on to state that she was in her room when she smelled the scent of gasoline, per WPDE. She said that when she went downstairs to investigate, the smell became more pungent, which is when she saw someone light the fluid on fire as they were closing the door.
Fire officials told WPDE that the pattern of the fire was “consistent with an accelerant being used,” adding that it appeared to have been poured in front of the other roommates’ bedroom doors as well as both sets of stairs — likely in an effort to prevent them from exiting their rooms or making it down the stairs.
Police reportedly said all three of the victims were forced to jump out of their bedroom windows to get out safely.
While officers were canvassing the scene and speaking to witnesses, a patrol vehicle spotted Licoski’s car and a chase ensued that ended with Licoski crashing. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment before being booked into the J. Reuben Long Detention Center, where he is currently being held without bond, records show.
