A Broome County man faces manslaughter and arson charges after a fire tore through an Endwell motel used for temporary housing, killing six people

By Finn Lincoln
syracuse.com

ENDWELL, N.Y. — A Broome County man set fire to a motel, killing six people and leaving dozens more displaced from the complex local officials used to house people, according to State Police.

The fire was first reported at about 6 a.m. Monday and tore through the Knights Inn motel, fully engulfing the building and prompting responses from 10 fire departments and several ambulances, troopers said.

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Tyler J. Russell, 24, of Endwell, was charged Monday night with six counts of second-degree manslaughter and one count of fourth-degree arson.

Several callers to emergency officials reported the blaze at the Knights Inn at 2603 East Main St. in Endwell just after 6 a.m. Monday, said Trooper Aga Tinker, a spokesperson for state police in a news release.

Responding firefighters found heavy black smoke and flames coming from the building, the release said. The building burned for hours.

The Broome County Department of Social Services placed most of the Knights Inn residents at the motel, Tinker said. The building is no longer livable and the DSS is working with the Red Cross to assist those displaced.

As of Tuesday morning, State Police had not released the number of people who had been displaced.

The Knights Inn is a 24,000-square-foot motel with 76 units, according to Broome County property records. It was purchased by Hiland Hospitality LLC in 2005 for nearly $1 million.

Displaced residents were provided temporary shelter for the night at Vestal United Methodist Church, 328 Main St., Vestal, Tinker said. The Red Cross is accepting donations of clothing and hygiene products, but not food, at the church.

Other displaced residents went to stay with family and friends in the area, Tinker said.

Russell previously spent two years in state prison on a fourth-degree grand larceny charge, according to state prison records. He was released on parole in February.

Russell is being held at the Broome County Jail pending arraignment.

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