A 16-year-old Harrison boy accused of setting fire to a Sheldon Park apartment building that caused about $500,000 damage last month was ordered by juvenile court Tuesday to stay in the Shuman Juvenile Detention Center until his hearing is held, an Allegheny County detective confirmed.

Two women and a wheelchair-bound man had to flee the smoke and flames April 22.

Allegheny County Police Detective Jason Costanza, who is assigned to the county’s Fire Marshal’s Office, worked with Harrison Detective Joe Signorella and Allegheny County Public Housing Authority Detective Sgt. Ed Mogus to investigate.

The youth and a second youth were inside a vacant apartment in Building No. 30 the night before the fire.

Costanza said when police interviewed the two “they had inconsistent stories.”

Police concluded that only one boy had set the fire.

“He went in on his own,” Costanza said.

The youth is facing five felony arson charges.

Witnesses said the apartment has been entered by a number of youths numerous times since it was vacated. Inside the cluttered apartment was a lot of paper and other things, the detective said.

“The youth found a towel on the kitchen counter. He used a lighter to set it on fire,” Costanza said.

Surveillance video shows many Sheldon Park residents of the same age going to classes that morning.

Detectives used witness interviews and they searched surveillance video taken at the public housing community and at Highlands High School.

The detective said the youth was already on juvenile probation, and sentenced to do community service, for burglary in Harrison.

Allegheny County Public Housing Authority Executive Frank Aggrazio said rebuilding may take six to eight months after financing is approved.

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)