Arrest warrant for man in his 40s who injured 14 people in arson at apartment "because he wanted to die"

(Jeonnam Gwangju = Yonhap News) Reporter Jeong Da-um = The police applied for an arrest warrant for a man in his 40s who, in an attempt to make an extreme choice, set fire to an apartment, causing multiple casualties.

On the 13th, the Gwangju Northern Police Station applied for an arrest warrant for Mr. A on charges of arson of a Hyeonju building.

Mr. A is suspected of intentionally starting a fire at around 6:33 pm on the 11th in a unit on the 6th floor of a 21-story apartment complex in Unam-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju, Jeollanam-do.

As a result of this fire, a total of 13 people were taken to the hospital for treatment, including a security guard in his 70s who suffered cardiac arrest.

During the police investigation, Mr. A is said to have made a statement to the effect that “I started the fire because I wanted to die.”

It was discovered that Mr. A, who was drunk at the time, ignited clothes hanging on a hanger with a lighter.

It was discovered that Mr. A had received hospital treatment for depression and had been working at a local public institution but was on leave for treatment.

The police deployed a profiler to investigate the motive for the crime and determined that Mr. A's statement was credible.