Pair Charged in Deadly Gary Fire

Fire caused one firefighter injury

Two men were charged Thursday in connection with a deadly fire in Gary, and the reason for the blaze may have come down to an argument over exchanging an Xbox for marijuana.

Trevontay D. Milsap and Rafael Peluyera face two counts of murder, two counts of murder in perpetration of arson, and four counts of arson.

Milsap was in police custody and Peluyera was at large Thursday night.

"All of us took this case a little more to heart probably because of the senseless nature of the crime," Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson said in detailing the charges.

Last week's fire killed Bernice King, 33, and her daughter, Angel Harris, 14. One firefighter was also injured putting out the blaze at the Lake Shore Dunes apartment complex.

Gary fire investigator Stephen Johnson said it appeared an accelerant was poured in a stairwell.

The murder counts carry sentences of 30 to 60 years, and the arson counts carry sentences of 25 to 50 years if the two men are convicted.

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