Coroner Says Pa. Grandpa Set Fire That Killed Self, Son and 2 Grandchildren in Triple Murder-Suicide

Photo: GoFundMe

At a press conference Tuesday morning, Dauphin County Coroner Graham Hetrick identified Jafar Afshar as the grandfather who died in Friday’s deadly fire — a fire they believe he started.

Hetrick told reporters the other victims in the triple murder-suicide were fast asleep as the fire spread.

Jafar’s actions, Hetrick said, killed his son, 36-year-old Saeed Afshar, and his two grandchildren — an 8-year-old boy and a 5-year-old girl.

Hetrick said Jafar doused the apartment with flammable accelerant before sparking the fire.

No motive for the killings has been discussed.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

Afshar and his children died from thermal burns and smoke inhalation, as did Jafar.

The blaze was first noticed Friday morning just after 6 a.m. in an apartment above Raja’s Quick Pick Mart in Steelton.

source: people.com