In South Ozone Park, a violent domestic dispute escalated into a devastating gas-fueled explosion that destroyed a home early Thursday morning. According to authorities, police responded to a 911 call reporting a family conflict involving a man allegedly armed with a knife. When officers arrived at the residence on 130th Street around 3 a.m., they detected a strong запах of gas coming from inside the house. A woman at the scene provided keys to the basement apartment, where the suspect—identified as 50-year-old Anroop Parasram—was believed to be.

As officers attempted to enter the home, a massive explosion suddenly erupted, triggering a five-alarm fire and causing the entire structure to collapse. The blast was so powerful that several police officers were thrown backward, though they quickly recovered and rushed in to help evacuate residents.

Investigators believe Parasram intentionally ignited the fire in the basement, leading to the explosion. His body was later recovered from the rubble, and officials suspect he died at the scene. At least seven police officers and a sergeant sustained minor injuries, including burns and cuts, while several civilians were also treated for non-life-threatening injuries. All 11 residents of the multi-family home managed to escape before or during the explosion.

Authorities revealed that the suspect had a history of domestic issues, including multiple expired orders of protection filed against him. The exact sequence of events leading to the ignition remains under investigation.

Emergency crews, including nearly 300 firefighters and EMS personnel, worked for hours to control the flames and prevent the fire from spreading to nearby buildings. Several neighboring homes were evacuated, and displaced residents are now receiving assistance from relief organizations. Officials described the outcome as fortunate, noting that the situation could have resulted in far greater loss of life.