Sisters arrested, accused of killing five-year-old in Portland Avenue arson

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Police arrested two sisters Tuesday for an arson which killed a five-year-old boy in Rochester.

Malakai Stovall died Thursday, three days after the fire. His family remembered him as “a kid that wasn’t afraid of anything.”

Investigators said Tiakalya and Taquida Hendrix used a flammable substance to start the fire on the porch of the building around 2:00 a.m. on July 29. Malakai was trapped on the second floor until firefighters could get him out.

Tiakalya, 21, and Taquida, 31, were arrested Tuesday. Both were charged with second degree murder and first degree arson.

News 8 spoke with members of Malakai’s family Tuesday evening.

“It’s a very very big start and it couldn’t have come at a better time,” Malakai’s grandmother Karen Mitchell said. “We’re just elated that before he’s laid to rest, he’s going to be laid to rest knowing that there is justice on the horizon.”

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A 19-year-old babysitter in the house at the time of the fire was unable to get upstairs due to how quickly it spread. Police said she was treated for smoke inhalation.

Two firefighters were also treated for injuries. Both remained out of work Tuesday, one with burns to the face and the other with rib and back injuries.

Investigators said Malakai and his family had no connection to the Hendrix sisters. Police did not detail any assumed motive behind the incident.

“This was intentional,” RPD Captain Frank Umbrino said. “This was the intended home that they were going to set on fire. I’m sorry it’s just, at some point it will come out. Just not yet.”

Tiakalya and Taquida Hendrix are scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday morning.

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