Washington, D.C. – A man was charged with murder and arson following a devastating house fire in Southeast D.C. that resulted in the deaths of three individuals, including two senior citizens, police confirmed on Monday. The incident, which occurred early Sunday, has shaken the community and raised questions about domestic violence and public safety.
Authorities have identified the accused as 56-year-old Robert Simpson, who was apprehended and taken into custody approximately a mile from the scene. Police have established a link between Simpson and one of the victims, indicating the likelihood of prior domestic issues escalating to the tragic event.
The deceased were identified as 84-year-old Margaret McKinnon, 64-year-old Ronald McKinnon, and 34-year-old Jessica Cunningham. Margaret McKinnon, who initially survived the incident, succumbed to her injuries the following day, intensifying the impact of the tragedy on the local community.
Police reports suggest that Simpson had a turbulent history with Cunningham, flagging their prior relationship as a potential motive. D.C. Chief of Police Pamela Smith described the event as a “domestic violence attack” that dramatically ended three lives due to “a senseless interpersonal conflict.”
In the hours preceding the fire, local authorities were called to the residence three times. The first call, around 7:05 p.m. on Saturday, involved a report of a broken window. The second, at about 9 p.m., was about a fire at the rear of the house, where officers discovered a fire in a trash can that had already been extinguished. Capt. Jeffrey Wade detailed that during a third interaction at approximately 3:40 a.m. Sunday, one resident reported an earlier assault by Simpson. Despite no immediate signs of injury and no need for medical attention noted, officers stayed for over an hour and escalated their watch for Simpson.
At about 5:30 a.m., following the outbreak of the house fire, D.C. Fire and EMS responded swiftly to the call, but by the time they extinguished the flames, Ronald McKinnon and Jessica Cunningham were dead, and Margaret McKinnon was critically injured and later died in the hospital.
Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly emphasized the severity of the event, noting it marked one of the deadliest fires in the city in over a decade. Investigators believe Simpson might have used an accelerant to set the fire, although the ongoing investigation has yet to confirm these specifics.
Questions arose during a press briefing about the police’s decision-making during the hours leading up to the fire, particularly why officers did not maintain a presence at the home despite the prior calls. Officials responded that resource constraints necessitated their departure to attend to other emerging situations across the city.
Court documents later revealed that Simpson had prior domestic assault charges and had allegedly been a continuous threat to the victims, who had expressed fears of his return.
The legal proceedings against Simpson began with his initial court appearance on Monday afternoon, as the community and authorities alike seek justice for the victims and look to address broader issues of domestic violence and response protocols in such emergencies.