Fire at Double-Homicide Suspect's Home May Be Arson

While police were closing in on Chatsworth double-slaying suspect Brent D. Zubek early Monday, someone set a fire at the Lassen Street home where the man had rented a room.

The decomposing bodies of a couple were found in a trash bin at the house in the 20400 block of Lassen Street early Aug. 13. And Zubek was on the run.

The 2:32 a.m. fire, which reportedly caused substantial damage to the house, is "tied to the arrest" of Zubek, according to Matt Spence, Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman. Zubek was shot in the hip at about 4:30 a.m. Monday after a seven-hour police manhunt for him in Encino.

Zubek, who had fired at police, was captured on a rooftop near with a gun beside him. He was booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer and a federal probation violation, the Los Angeles Times reported. He was being held without bail at the Van Nuys jail. Police said they are still developing evidence in the slayings and have not arrested Zubek in connection with that crime, according to the Times.

"The fire is under active investigation by the Arson and Counter-Terrorism Section and the LAPD," Spence said.  Because of the nature of the crime, "All I can say is that it is an ongoing investigation," he said.

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