Chaos erupted at a Milwaukee apartment complex after a shocking act of arson allegedly fueled by family drama. Laquita Spears, 48, is accused of torching her father’s residence while he was still inside, following a heated argument over her eviction, authorities reveal.
According to the police report, Spears had been ordered to leave her father’s apartment after staying there for several weeks, having previously been ousted from a local shelter. Tensions exploded on January 13, 2026, at around 1 p.m., with Spears purportedly screaming incoherently about a missing $5 as her father insisted she had to go.
In a fit of rage, Spears reportedly grabbed charcoal lighter fluid and a red Bic lighter, dousing a jacket on the couch with the accelerant before setting it ablaze. Police say she stormed out of the apartment, taunting her father with the menacing words, “Burn [expletive], burn!”
Once the flames took hold, they quickly spread throughout the building— a complex mainly housing elderly and disabled tenants and, alarmingly, lacking a sprinkler system. The fire triggered chaos, with terrified residents scrambling to escape the thick smoke. Some hung from windows in desperation; several suffered from smoke inhalation, and at least one individual was rushed to the hospital after being found unconscious and not breathing, according to first responders.
Attempts by Spears’ father to douse the flames were futile, with both his coat and the living room couch engulfed. Authorities allege Spears not only set the coat and couch on fire but also soaked a basket of clothes in lighter fluid for maximum damage.
Investigators tracked Spears down and took her into custody on January 16. During questioning, officers say Spears confessed, recounting long-running family disputes going back to September, and referencing her previous convictions for arson. She admitted to targeting both her father’s jacket and additional laundry in her fiery outburst, aiming to inflict as much destruction as possible before fleeing the scene.
The blaze, which endangered a vulnerable community and left several hurt, is now at the center of a major criminal investigation as Spears faces charges related to her alleged arson spree.
