Dominican mother and son die in Brooklyn apartment fire; possible prior argument under investigation

Brooklyn, New York.– An 86-year-old woman and her 65-year-old son, both of Dominican nationality, died on the morning of Saturday, May 24, after a fire destroyed the apartment where they resided in the Flatbush sector of Brooklyn. The victims were identified by community residents as Maria and Jose Castro, who had lived for more than four decades in the building located on Nostrand Avenue, near Cortelyou Road. Authorities have not yet offered official confirmation of the identities while notification processes to family members are completed. According to reports from the New York Post, local residents claimed to have heard a loud argument moments before the fire started, an element that is now part of the investigation led by New York authorities. The fire also left two women injured, aged 82 and 40, who were taken to Downstate University Hospital. The New York City Police Department (NYPD) reported that both are in stable condition and will survive the injuries sustained. The incident was reported in the early hours of the morning and mobilized units from the New York City Fire Department (FDNY), who managed to control the flames around 7:38 a.m.

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Witnesses to the event reported that a discussion in Spanish had preceded the fire. One of them, identified as a neighbor of the adjacent building, said he had been awakened by raised voices around 5:45 in the morning, although he initially failed to identify what was being said. “I heard someone shout that there was a fire. I looked out the window and saw huge flames. I immediately took my family, my pets, and everyone who was in the house out,” the witness told local media. Residents of the area described the victims as a well-known family in the community. They indicated that Maria had been bedridden for about 20 years due to health problems, while her son dedicated himself to her care. They also pointed out that he was the coach of a local children’s baseball team. Authorities continue to investigate the causes of the fire to determine its origin and the circumstances surrounding the tragedy that has caused consternation among Flatbush residents.