Story by Ethan
On April 17th, 2026, the arrest of Shaniqua Fort, age 36, was announced by Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. Shaniqua Fort was charged with first-degree Reckless Endangerment, second-degree Criminal Mischief, second-degree Arson, two counts of second-degree Assault, two counts of third-degree Arson, two counts of third-degree Assault, three counts of fourth-degree Criminal Mischief, two counts of fifth-degree Arson, fourth-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon, and Petite Larceny. The arrest and charges against Shaniqua Fort were a result of an investigation handled by the New York Police Department’s 104th Precinct.
According to the Queens District Attorney’s Office, at approximately 9:00 p.m. on April 13th, 2026, Shaniqua Fort removed a black trash bag from a public trash bin in front of 888 Chinese Restaurant located at 60-92 Flushing Avenue. The defendant allegedly set the bag down in an alcove leading to the building entrance before setting it ablaze and leaving the scene. As the fire spread multiple victims suffered various injuries while attempting to escape from the building. One individual on the second floor used his arm to break a window, causing multiple lacerations that led to severe bleeding and pain. Another individual in a nearby apartment jumped from a second-story window to escape the fire, leading to her sustaining two broken heels and a fractured finger that required surgery, burns on multiple fingers and her legs, and soot stuck inside of her nose and throat.
After the first fire had begun, Saniqua Fort walked to D’Angelo’s Funeral home at 64-18 Grand Avenue before allegedly lighting fire to an American flag that was hung up in front of the building. A second flag was also strung up in front of the funeral home that the defendant took down before leaving the scene. Shaniqua Fort then walked to an Allstate Insurance Company office building located on 65-02 Grand Avenue and allegedly picked up a nearby brick before throwing it through the front glass window.
Following the shattering of the Allstate Insurance Company office building window Shaniqua Fort traveled to the Maspeth Jewish Center located at 66-64 Grand Avenue and allegedly picked up and threw an unknown object through a glass window. After the window was shattered it’s alleged that the defendant had also lit several objects on fire around the building before taking an unknown object on her persons and using it to grow the flames substantially. Officers from the NYPD’s 104th Precinct apprehended Shaniqua Fort shortly after the fire was set at the Maspeth Jewish Center.
The Queens District Attorney’s Office stated that the charges against Shaniqua Fort are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
