4 dead, 1 critical in fire caused by space heater

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Four people died and one person was injured early Tuesday in a house fire in Memphis, authorities said.

Firefighters responded to the one-story home around 2 a.m., Memphis Fire Department spokeswoman Qwanesha Ward said in a news release.

Two adults and two children were killed the blaze, which was caused by a space heater in a rear bedroom, Ward said. Officials didn’t release their names, but said the children were 8 and 10 years old and the adults were 33 and 62.

A fifth person found in the home was taken to a hospital in critical condition. It was not known if the house had a smoke alarm, the news release said.

“This situation is sad. I just want to urge the community to be mindful when using space heaters, and never leave them unattended,” Ward told media outlets.

Memphis teen charged in church leader’s killing

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A 15-year-old boy and a 21-year-old man have been indicted in the carjacking and fatal shooting of a prominent United Methodist Church leader in Memphis, Tennessee, prosecutors said Tuesday.

Miguel Andrade, 15, and Eduard Rodriguez-Tabora, 21, were each indicted on charges of first-degree murder and especially aggravated robbery in the July 18, 2022, death of the Rev. Autura Eason-Williams, the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office said in a news release.

Eason-Williams was found in the driveway of her home with gunshot wounds. She died at a hospital. Video footage showed that the pastor was ordered out of her car and then shot before her car was taken, police said.