James G. Walker, a property owner in Washington, D.C., has been found guilty of two counts of second-degree murder and 27 violations of building codes. This decision comes after a tragic fire in his building that led to the deaths of two tenants, 40-year-old Fitsum Kebede and 10-year-old Yafet Solomen.
The fire broke out on August 18, 2019, in the basement of Walker’s property located at 708 Kennedy Street. Unfortunately, both Kebede and Solomen were trapped and unable to escape the flames. They died from thermal burns and smoke inhalation.
Prosecutors presented evidence showing that Walker was aware of the dangerous conditions in his building but chose to ignore them. He did not have a certificate of occupancy for the property, which was operating as an illegal “rooming house.” The building violated several fire safety codes, and many of its rooms were deemed uninhabitable. Some rooms lacked windows, and there were no functional smoke alarms, particularly in the basement.
One of the most serious violations was the lack of a clear escape route. The property had multiple security gates that required keys from both sides, making it difficult for tenants to exit safely. A double-keyed gate blocked access from the kitchen to the front door, which further restricted escape during the fire.
Officials revealed that Walker had been warned about these issues months before the fire. On March 21, 2019, the Metropolitan Police Department notified him about the building’s violations and instructed him to make necessary corrections and have the property inspected for residential use. However, he failed to take any action.
The case was tried in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, with the prosecution led by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., and D.C. Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb. The outcome of this trial underscores the serious consequences of neglecting safety regulations in residential buildings.