Youth Threatens to Jump Off Building in Wake of Fire

The terrible, senseless deaths of three young girls entrusted to the care of the state are tragedy enough. No matter what any investigation indicates, or reveals, the primary victims are gone. But there is another tragedy, and other victims. As the fire burned on Saturday at the Youth Hostel, the frustrated, angry and grief-stricken screams of other residents rang out. As fire department personnel raked through the gutted remains of the smoking house, there was a near riot in progress in the main hostel building. There were bone-chilling images of one girl, sobbing, who climbed onto the roof of the building and threatened to jump off. She was pulled to safety by other inmates and carried off the roof. Furious screams rang out inside the building, and the sound of breaking glass and chairs breaking broke the stillness of the afternoon. Young girls ranted and raved, cursed and threatened to break out of the compound. In the end Police had to push everybody into one room and lock them down with an officer stationed inside. The bodies of Shadisha Arnold, Ana Carlos and Elizabeth Mckoy were removed from the scene late Saturday and taken to the K.H.M.H. where a post-mortem examination was scheduled to be conducted today.