The children allegedly told a witness their mother started the fire and said she was “going to kill them all,” according to authorities
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/Hawa-Hassan-mugshot-3700-block-of-Eakin-Road-apartments-050426-d45bec6f418544e182a2cbe21e386bed.jpg "Hawa Hassan mugshot Mom told 4 kids she was 'going to kill them all' before setting apartment on fire: Police")
Credit: Franklin County Sheriff’s Office; Google Maps
NEED TO KNOW
- An Ohio mom, 30, is accused of setting fire to the apartment where she lived with her four children, authorities said
- Hawa Hassan of Columbus allegedly started the fire with a lighter on Saturday morning
- The children were able to escape safely, according to authorities
An Ohio woman is accused of setting fire to her apartment while her four children were inside, authorities said.
On Saturday, May 2, Hawa Hassan, 30, of Columbus, was arrested and charged with felony aggravated arson as well as assault and domestic violence by assault — both misdemeanors, according to online jail records.
At around 8:15 a.m., firefighters responded to a report of a blaze in the Wedgewood Apartment complex in Columbus, according to a criminal complaint affidavit obtained by WCMH, WSYX and WBNS.
Crews found multiple people inside the building, including four minor children inside one apartment unit, authorities said, per the affidavit.
According to the affidavit, investigators quickly learned that someone had intentionally set the fire, which began in the bedroom of one of the apartments.
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One witness told police that the four children said their mother allegedly started the fire with a lighter and said she was “going to kill them all,” the affidavit alleges.
The children were able to get out of the apartment safely and uninjured, according to authorities, who noted in the affidavit that Hassan allegedly admitted to responding officers that she started the fire, per the outlets.
The children are now in the custody of Franklin County Children's Services, WSYX reported. Court records show that Hassan and her husband divorced in 2025.
Hassan is being held on a $2 million bond. She is scheduled to appear in court on May 12.
It is unclear whether she has retained an attorney who can speak on her behalf.