Man killed in condo fire in SE Houston identified

HOUSTON – The body of a 20-year-old man was found inside one of two condominiums that caught fire and burned Wednesday afternoon at Thai Xuan Village at 8200 Broadway.

The man was identified as Lam Nguyen, who lived in the condominium complex.

The fire started at 3:11 p.m. Wednesday. Firefighters arrived to find two condominiums ablaze on the second-floor.

The fire went up to two alarms as firefighters fought through the smoke and flames. 

Investigators said they found Nguyen after the fire was extinguished by the Houston Fire Department at 4:50 p.m. They believe he was trapped inside because of burglar bars on the windows. 

Police said they found no signs of foul play. An autopsy will be performed by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences to determine Nguyen's cause of death.

Two firefighters also suffered minor injuries in the fire.

A woman, identified by HFD as Nguyen's mother, arrived a few minutes after the fire was extinguished and became hysterical.

She struggled with medics as they tried to calm her. She fought her way out of an ambulance before fainting.

She was placed on a gurney and treated at the scene.

Anyone with information in the case is asked to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600.