Officer Injured Responding to Fire Started by Teen at Brooklyn Apartment Building Dies

The officer was one of two were responded to a call about a fire at a Brooklyn apartment building over the weekend.

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Complex Original

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Authorities say one of the NYPD officers who responded to a fire started by a "bored" Brooklyn teenager over the weekend has died. 

According to CBS New York, Officer Dennis Guerra, 38, was pronounced dead around 6:50 a.m. this morning. Officer Guerra and Officer Rosa Rodriguez responded to a call about a fire on the 13th floor of a Coney Island apartment building Sunday afternoon, but could not withstand the smoke and passed out after exiting the elevator. By the time the FDNY found them, Guerra was already in cardiac arrest. 

Officer Rodriguez, 36, is said to be recovering. The fire was started by 16-year-old Marcell Dockery, who reportedly told authorities that he set a mattress on fire out of boredom, but was unable to extinguish it. Dockery has been charged with arson, reckless endangerment and assault.

CBS New York adds that Mayor Bill de Blasio held a moment of silence for Guerra at an even this morning, while NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton said the "entire city [is grieving] this terrible loss" during a flag-lowering ceremony at police headquarters today.

[via Gothamist and CBS New York]

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