HEMPSTEAD, New York (WABC) — A father and his 12-year-old son were killed in a two-alarm fire in a Hempstead apartment building Friday morning.
The flames broke out in the Albemarle Avenue building just before 4:05 a.m.
Kenneth Roberts, 42, and his son Mekhi were both pulled from their basement apartment and taken to Nassau University Medical Center where they later died.
Some 100 firefighters raced to help. Sadly, it would not be enough to save the victims.
Eyewitness News obtained video of the young boy, who loved playing firefighter when he was little.
The grieving wife and stepmother, Lissett Cruz, gave Eyewitness News the video and photo of her loved ones.
“He was a good kid. And my husband, he loved his son. He loved his family. He was a loving, honest person,” Cruz said. “I don’t feel like it’s real, it’s a dream. I’m at a loss for words, it doesn’t feel real right now.”
Ten residents and a dog were displaced by the fire and are being assisted by the Red Cross.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. Officials say there were no smoke detectors observed.
———-
* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts
Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News
Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply.
Copyright © 2026 WABC-TV. All Rights Reserved.