Crime & Safety

Man Sets Duplex on Fire After Striking His Grandmother, Deputies Say

Donald Evans, 24, was booked into Sacramento County Jail on charges of arson and elder abuse.

Update: Donald Eugene Evans is currently being held in the Sacramento County Main Jail on four felony charges: arson, threats resulting in death or great bodily injury, elder abuse and violation of probation.

The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District issued the following press release about this incident [Note: the release erroneously refers to the home as being in Rancho Cordova] -

Sacramento , CA – Rancho Cordova House Fire Leads to Arrest

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Just before 4pm yesterday, Metro Fire crews responded to a house in the 4000 block of Birchgrove Way in Rancho Cordova for a report of a house fire.  Units arriving found one side of a duplex well involved in fire. Crews launched a quick interior attack on the fire, completely stopping the fire spread and saving the other side of the duplex from any fire damage.

Twenty-four firefighters on scene struggled to contain the fire to the area of origin.  The adjoining unit suffered smoke and cosmetic damage only. Firefighting efforts saved the property owners roughly $250,000 in personal property. No firefighters or civilians were injured due to the fire.

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Arson Investigators on scene determined that the fire was caused by Arson, and working together with Sacramento County Sheriff’s officers, arrested 24 year old Donald Eugene Evans.  Evans is currently in custody and is charged with Arson, Terrorist Threats, Elder Abuse and Violation of Probation.

Original story:

A 24-year-old Rosemont man reportedly struck his grandmother and then set their shared duplex on fire, destroying much of the building's contents.

The man, Donald Evans, was booked into Sacramento County Jail on charges of arson and elder abuse, according to Fox 40.

The neighbors who live in the attached portion of the duplex “say they’ve lost everything in this incident.”

Check out the Fox 40 report to see why they were confused about what Evans had done. 

Authorities are also helping comfort the grandmother in the wake of the incident. 


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