The suspect, Efrem Zimbalist Demrey, Jr. 28, was arrested over the weekend for allegedly starting the blaze that killed two people and critically wounded two others.
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Police say Demrey was involved in some kind of dispute with the two victims who died. He allegedly went to a nearby gas station, bought gasoline, spread it around the studio and started the blaze that killed the two men, LAPD officials said.
The two others who were critically wounded - a 20-year-old man and a 15-year-old female - were not involved in the dispute and were not intentionally targeted, police said.
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The two victims who died were identified as Michael King Pollard, Jr., 30, and Devaughn Carter, 28, both Los Angeles residents.
Police say Demrey has a prior criminal history that includes arrests for burglary and selling counterfeit goods.
"Why he did it -- was he on drugs? Was he on pills, something?" said Pollard's mother, Lodi Pollard. "Because we never seen it coming. I didn't see it coming."
Carter's mother, Donna Hill, said she just told his son in Napa Valley about his father's death.
"He was a good father to him," Hill said. "I just got through having to tell him over the phone that his daddy's not gonna be here anymore."