House fire follows attempted robbery

YOUNGSTOWN — An attempted robbery, in which a shot was fired into the front seat of a car driven by a food delivery man, was followed immediately by a fire at the South Side house to which the food was being delivered.

The 34-year-old Chinese fast food delivery man told police he was making a delivery at about 12:30 p.m. Monday to a house at 935 Cameron Ave., but then backed out of the driveway and parked on the street when an unfamiliar man emerged from the house.

That man went back inside the house, but a second man emerged with bills in his hand, suggesting he was going to pay for the food. The second man then drew a gun, fired into the car seat and re-entered the house without taking any money or food from the delivery man.

Shortly thereafter, police said the house was in flames. Firefighters were called at 12:45 p.m. and arrived three minutes later.

A fire department spokesman, who estimated damage from the blaze at $7,500, said the house was vacant and unsecured, with the front door wide open and contents limited to a coffee table and “a battered microwave.” When they arrived, firefighters found nobody on the premises and police interviewing the delivery man outside.

The cause of the fire in the single-story wood frame residence is listed as undetermined, and fire investigators were to be on the scene today. The fire department was unable to trace the ownership of the house on Monday.

No injuries were reported in the attempted robbery or the fire.