Flushing man pleads guilty to bombing Queens apartment – Queens Daily Eagle

Ryan Schwach

A Queens man pleaded guilty in federal court this week to setting fire to a Flushing apartment building in 2022.

Atahualpa Rodriguez, a 50-year-old Flushing man, pleaded guilty in federal court to arson and now faces at least five years in prison.

One firefighter was injured while fighting the fire, which was started by Rodriguez.

According to court documents, on January 12, 2022, Rodriguez got into an argument with a resident of a house located on Parsons Boulevard.

Around 4:40 a.m., the resident awoke to the sound of breaking glass and heard a voice yell, “To hell with you all.”

They came out of the bedroom and saw the fire.

The fire caused approximately $1 million in damage and completely destroyed the apartment.

“Today, the defendant admitted that he deliberately set fire to a residential building in the village of

the pre-dawn darkness, when many residents were asleep, which led to the destruction of one apartment,

damaging surrounding units and injuring the brave first responders who battled the flames,” said United States Attorney Breon Peace. “His actions showed a complete disregard for human life and put hundreds of people in grave danger over a personal dispute. Rodriguez now awaits a just punishment for his actions.”