A domestic dispute in Queens ended with a fiery explosion early on Thursday morning that collapsed a home and sent responding police officers flying through the air, leaving them hospitalized.
According to NYPD Assistant Chief Christopher McIntosh, the suspect who ignited the disaster — identified by police as Anroop Parasram, 50 — entered a home at 107-33 130th St. in South Ozone Park with plastic bags filled with canisters and began threatening his estranged wife.
At 2:42 a.m. on April 30, the victim’s daughter called the police, begging for help. Officers from the 106th Precinct responded to the incident.
“The call was placed by a family member of the victim who stated that her male relative arrived at their residence intoxicated and armed with a knife, and there was a smell of gas in the residence,” McIntosh said. “Mr. Parasram forced his way into the apartment by pushing the air conditioning unit. Once in the apartment, the daughter and his two grandchildren of the victim managed to flee to safety.”
While most of the family ran to safety, Parasram allegedly remained in the home with his estranged wife and threatened her with a knife, police say, before she escaped on her own. She met with arriving police officers and handed them a key to enter the home.
That’s when cops found themselves in danger.
“Our officers were at the front door of the residence attempting to enter when suddenly a massive, fiery explosion erupted at 2:57 a.m. Multiple officers were thrown off their feet, with some being launched into gates at the front of the residence,” McIntosh said.
A police source said that the officers were extremely lucky to be alive. Despite being launched into the air by the explosion’s sheer force, they managed to enter the building and evacuate people in the area.
Firefighters raced to the scene just before 3 a.m. Thursday. When they arrived, according to FDNY Chief of Department John Esposito, they encountered a massive 5-alarm inferno that prevented them from entering to search for individuals inside.
Still, everyone involved in the blast was accounted for, except the suspect. Police sources report it is unclear if Parasram escaped or perished in the explosion.
“The building has collapsed, we will start debris removal with our heavy equipment to see if we can account for anybody that might be reported missing,” Esposito said. “There are 16 people displaced so far. We’re working with the Red Cross for shelter.”
Some 13 individuals were reported injured and treated at an area hospital l, including eight police officers, who were treated for burns, and one of the cops who needed stitches for a laceration to his head.
“When they got to the door, a dangerous explosion so powerful it knocked them off their feet. They stood up, they got up, they ran into the burning home, because that’s what the job requires,” Mcintosh charged.
Police say they have responded to domestic disputes numerous times in previous years. The investigation remains ongoing.
