by The New York Times
BALTIMORE -- An East Baltimore man who was badly burned in an arson fire that killed his wife and five of her children died today.
The man, Carnell Dawson Sr., 43, had been the sole survivor of the Oct. 16 fire, which the authorities said was set in retaliation for his wife’s repeated confrontations with drug dealers outside the family’s home.
Mr. Dawson, who had jumped from a second-floor window to escape the flames, died this afternoon at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore.
Darrell L. Brooks, a 21-year-old who once worked as a clerk for the Baltimore City Council and lived a few doors from the Dawsons, has been arrested. The police said Mr. Brooks kicked in the door of the Dawsons’ home after 2 a.m., poured out gasoline and ignited the fire. He was being held without bond on first-degree murder, arson and numerous other charges.
Mr. Dawson’s death came on the eve of a funeral for his wife, Angela M. Dawson, 36, and five of her children, ages 8 to 14. Mrs. Dawson also had an 18-year-old daughter who did not live at the house.
After the fire, in tense meetings and at rallies and vigils attended by hundreds of people, ministers and residents called on the city to increase police patrols in the neighborhood, improve its schools and housing and strengthen drug treatment, recreation and economic development efforts.
On Monday, Baltimore’s mayor, Martin O’Malley, said Maryland had agreed to provide more than 100 state troopers to patrol city thoroughfares, hire 75 more parole officers and provide more jail space to help the city fight drug-related violence. Mr. O’Malley said he was also pushing for more protection of those who report drug dealing.