Teen's Body Discovered After Hyde Park Fire

The body of a 17-year-old boy was found Tuesday at the scene of a fire that damaged a detached converted garage in the Hyde Park area in which he and three other people were living, authorities said.

Firefighters sent to the 4800 block of Crenshaw Boulevard shortly before 9 a.m. extinguished the flames in about 15 minutes and discovered the teen dead, according to Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey. His name was withheld, pending notification of his relatives.

A 22-year-old man, believed to be the teen's brother, was taken to a hospital for treatment of smoke exposure and was in good condition, Humphrey said.

Chuck Young, the victim's grandfather, said he had spoken to his grandson just a day earlier. 

"I told him I was going to teach him how to drive," he said through tears.

Devin Simmons, a resident of the house in front of the converted garage, which the LAPD described as a "sober living facility," said he awoke to the sound of a female tenant throwing things.

The LAPD confirmed that their initial call was for that incident. Other tenants referred to the woman as "unstable."

"I never thought she'd do something this evil," Simmons said. The woman was taken into custody, and police confirmed that the fire was the result of arson.

"Somebody's going to jail because the fire was set," Young said.

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