2 die in Austin fire; man escapes from 2nd-floor window

A man and woman were found dead in the top floors of a home in the 500 block of North Lawler Avenue.

Crews respond to a fire Thursday, Jan. 21, in the 500 block of North Lawler Avenue.

Crews respond to a fire Thursday, Jan. 21, in the 500 block of North Lawler Avenue.

Chicago Fire Department

A man and woman died in a West Side blaze Thursday morning that sent one man jumping from a second-floor window.

A rear portion of home collapsed Jan. 21 while firefighters worked to extinguish flames that engulfed the two-story home in the 500 block of North Lawler Avenue, according to police and fire officials.

Crews spotted the first victim, a woman, dead in the home’s attic, fire department spokesman Larry Langford said.

Crews later uncovered a man dead on the second floor, he said. He was identified as 59-year-old Warren Pete Cooper.

The other victim was identified as Ladonna Whiteside, 35, the medical examiner’s office said.

The name of the other fatality was not released.

The man who survived the fire jumped from a second-story window and went to Stroger Hospital, Langford said. He was in good condition with a leg injury, police said.

Crews responded about 9:15 a.m. to the blaze and extinguished the fire within 20 minutes, Langford said.

Investigators had not determined a cause yet, but were looking into the fact that gas had been shut off to the building, and that the home may have been using electric heaters, Langford said.

The home had no working smoke detectors.

The Latest
Previously struggling to keep its doors open, the Buena Park establishment received a boost from the popular TikToker.
Bagent also said the negative publicity about teammate Caleb Williams leading to the draft has turned out to be “completely false.”
Deputy Sean Grayson has been fired and charged with murder in the fatal shooting of Massey, who had called 911 to report a possible prowler. He has pleaded not guilty. The family says the Department of Justice is investigating.
Here’s how Kamala Harris and the Democratic National Convention are embracing Charli XCX’s social media post that sparked a cultural movement.
Thousands gathered in Union Park for the Pitchfork Music Festival, the Chicago Bears started training camp at Halas Hall, and Vice President Kamala Harris kicked off her presidential campaign.