Burnsville apartment fire is being investigated for arson, one suspect is in custody
Jourdan Nige Robe Murray-Thigpen, pictured below, has been charged with three felonies in relation to the Parkvue Flats Apartment fire on Saturday, August 6, 2022.
Count I: Arson in the 1st Degree (Dwelling): Maximum sentence 0-20 years and/or $6,000-$20,000
Count II: Arson in the 2nd Degree (Building): Maximum sentence 0-10 years and/or $6,000-$20,000
Count III: Threats of Violence (Intent to Terrorize): Maximum sentence 0-5 years and/or $3,000-$10,000
CRIMINAL COMPLAINT - According to the Criminal Complaint, officers were dispatched to the Parkvue Flats Apartments for reports of a fire at the building. As officers arrived at the scene, they noticed a large amount of smoke coming from the building, and they began evacuating the building floor by floor. Due to the fire, about 50 people were displaced from their residences.
Officers report that not long after arriving at the apartment fire, dispatch had received several text messages from what ended up being Murray-Thigpen [Suspect] himself. Once the fire was out, officers would later learn that the fire originated in the apartment of the suspect’s girlfriend [Victim].
The Victim stated she had arrived home from working a night shift around 7:40-8 AM, ten minutes later than normal, and when she walked into her apartment, the Suspect was sitting in a chair waiting for her. The suspect got into an argument with her wondering why she was late, and the Victim stated she had tried to go to bed. The Victim then stated that the Suspect grabbed a bottle of rubbing alcohol and began dousing her, the bed, and the rest of the bedroom in rubbing alcohol, then threatening to light it on fire with a lighter. The Victim said she told the Suspect was going to call the police, and the suspect then assaulted her, took her phone, and left the room.
The Suspect then told the other residents of the apartment he was going to set the apartment on fire and told them to leave. That was when the Victim ran out to another neighboring building. Police then spoke with several witnesses who stated about ten minutes after the Suspect had told them to leave the apartment, they came out of their bedroom to find several fires in the apartment in the living room, near the bathroom, and in the Victims bedroom. The suspect then ran out of the apartment. The Witnesses attempted to put the fires out, but they were too large, so they left the apartment for safety.
After the fire was out, fire investigators and officers documented and photographed heavy fire damage throughout the apartment and reported finding one dead kitten under a sofa in the living room.
At around 12:20 PM, officers still on scene at Parkvue Flats found a vehicle on fire in the apartment complex's parking lot with smoke coming from the vehicle's trunk. The vehicle ended up being the Victim’s car. The Suspect had her keys when he fled the scene of the apartment. When fire investigators documented the vehicle, they found a gasoline can in the truck. They concluded that the fire was likely started earlier in the day, but due to a lack of oxygen in the trunk from it being closed, it was not able to start on fire immediately. Fire investigators said it likely took a significant amount of time for the fire to build and then start the other items on fire in the trunk.
At 1:11 PM, police issued an alert on the Suspect and his vehicle. Police ended up finding the Suspect and his vehicle at a business off West Broadway Avenue after tracking his phone. When the Suspect was arrested, they found a bottle of Isopropyl Alcohol and two lighters on him. Officers also called the number they received text messages from earlier in the morning, and the phone that the Suspect had in his possession was the phone that rang.
BURNSVILLE, MINNESOTA (Original story) - Around 9 AM Saturday, August 6th Burnsville Police and Burnsville, Eagan, and Apply Valley Fire Departments were dispatched to the Parkvue Flats Apartment complex for a fire that many residents had assumed came from a lightning strike after a loud boom/explosion sound was heard around the same time many thought there was a lightning strike. Showers and storms were working through the area during the time the fire started. Archived lightning data also shows at least four lightning strikes that occurred within 2.0 miles of the apartment complex between 8:40-9:00 AM that morning. The closest of those lightning strikes occurred around 8:54 AM and was about 0.7187 miles from the building. Residents at the scene reported seeing a large police response on the scene, which residents were reporting was because at first, police thought there was an explosion. Two area fire departments responded as mutual aid to the fire. Two mass transit buses were also called in for the residents who were being evacuated because of the fire and were held on the buses due to ongoing showers and storms in the area.
The Burnsville Fire Chief said the first fire crews were on the scene within only a few minutes as they were responding from Burnsville Station #2, located about a mile away. Mutual aid was again provided by Eagan and Apple Valley Fire Departments with Alina Health on scene providing medical aid. Fire crews quickly knocked the fire down, with ventilation of the building beginning around 10:41 AM. The entire was evacuated as many residents were reporting heavy smoke/smoke smell throughout the 100-unit building. Two civilians were treated for “minor ailments.” One was treated on scene and released, while one other person was taken to an area hospital. Their injuries were said to have been minor, but are unsure of their condition at the time. One firefighter was also assessed on the scene but did not require medical assistance.
Officials say about 50 people are currently displaced from their apartments due to the fire and smoke. The Red Cross was on the scene, providing aid to those impacted and food and drinks.
One Arrested
Police announced in a press briefing from the City of Burnsville that they are investigating this fire as arson as it appears it was intentionally started. The Burnsville Police additionally announced that have one suspect in custody, but with the ongoing investigation, are not able to provide any further information at this time. Once the criminal complaint is released, we will update this story with the latest information.
