The Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez today announced that a fifth child succumbed to injuries sustained in last week’s Union City fire.
According to authorities, the investigation into the origin and cause of the fire at 416 25th Street in Union City on July 13, 2018, that resulted in the deaths of five children is continuing.
Last night, the fifth child, Shamira Lopez, age 4, was pronounced dead.
Officials say on July 13th, a five-year-old girl and two boys, ages two and seven, were pronounced dead and Sunday night, a 13-year-old boy was pronounced dead.
The names and ages of the children that died as a result of the fire are:
Mayli Wood, age 5.
Jason Gonzalez, age 2.
Christian Josue Mendez, age 7.
Jose Felipe Tejada, age 13.
Shamira Lopez, age 4.
According to authorities, seven people were injured in the fire including the five fatalities. An adult female and an adult male are in stable condition. Additionally, eight firefighters were transported by Emergency Medical Services to area hospitals where they were treated for various minor injuries.
A preliminary investigation determined that the fire began at 416 25th Street but also caused substantial damage to a residential building located at 414 25th Street.
The investigation into the origin and cause of the fire is pending, but arson investigators have determined that the fire originated on the first floor of the three story residence.
The Prosecutor’s Homicide Unit and the Union City Police Department are actively investigating this incident with assistance from the NJ State Fire Marshals Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office at 201-915-1345 or leave an anonymous tip on the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office website at http://www.hudsoncountyprosecutorsofficenj.org/homicide-tip/. All information will be kept confidential.