Two residents of a southeast Minneapolis apartment building that went up in smoke early Thursday morning are in police custody today.
A 20-year-old man and 19-year-old woman, who live together in a third-floor apartment, are in Hennepin County Jail awaiting possible charges in connection with the fire, which killed one woman.
The couple is also suspected in two other fires at 301 University Ave. S.E. this month, police said. A fire Wednesday started in the basement, and another fire June 27 started in a third-floor storage area.
Investigators have ruled all three fires arson. Police said an accelerant was used in Thursday’s blaze.
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s office was still trying to confirm the woman’s identity, an official at the office said Friday. Minneapolis firefighters found her dead in a third-floor hallway during a rescue attempt early Thursday morning.
Firefighters evacuated more than 35 other residents from the building before extinguishing the fire. Several tenants and a firefighter sustained minor injuries.
Both suspects are being held without bail for probable cause murder, jail officials said. Prosecutors have until noon today to file charges or the suspects will be released.
Information regarding a possible motive will not be released until criminal charges are filed, police said.
The man was arrested late Thursday evening after giving a statement at Minneapolis police headquarters. The woman was arrested later that night at a Bloomington restaurant where she and the other suspect work.
The man has lived in the third-floor apartment of 301 University Ave. S.E. for at least three years, according to court records. He has six traffic violations, but no adult criminal record in Hennepin County.
The woman has lived in the building for at least six months. She has one traffic violation and no criminal record in the county.