A 45-year-old man was charged with three counts of homicide and arson in a Bronx bodega fire that killed Ori De Leon, a 70-year-old community figure who perished while helping others escape. The blaze erupted May 6 at 2592 Third Avenue in Mott Haven, where De Leon ran a rooming house that sheltered marginalized residents for decades.

Police arrested Daniel Santana after surveillance video and his statements linked him to the gasoline-fed fire. The building had drawn over 10 emergency calls since January for disputes and thefts, reflecting its complex role as both refuge and trouble spot. Neighbors described De Leon as a father figure who fixed anything from appliances to lives, despite his own struggles with addiction and criminal history.

De Leon's death shocked the tight-knit neighborhood, where he'd lived for three generations and operated businesses from his childhood home. Tenants recalled his compassion during hard times, sharing groceries and offering credit without judgment. His passing marked the loss of a central community anchor who'd transformed a modest deli into a hub for local children and struggling adults alike.

Susantana, now in custody, allegedly boasted about winning lawsuits and flashed a rifle before the fire. His wife said he'd been erratic and evicted from their home. As excavators cleared the ash-strewn lot where De Leon's home once stood, tenants gathered silently, grappling with the void left by their protector and 'pop-pop.'