Crime
Chamel Abdulkarim filmed himself starting a massive fire at Kimberly-Clark warehouse in Ontario
Chamel Abdulkarim, of Highland, has been charged with two felony counts of arson
ONTARIO, Calif. — Authorities have arrested a 29-year-old warehouse employee in connection with a massive six-alarm fire that destroyed a large distribution facility in San Bernardino County early Tuesday morning.
According to officials and sources familiar with the investigation, Chamel Abdulkarim, of Highland, has been charged with two felony counts of arson in relation to the blaze at a warehouse operated by consumer goods company Kimberly-Clark.
He is currently being held without bail at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga.
Investigators allege that Abdulkarim intentionally set the fire at approximately 12:30 a.m. at the nearly 1.2 million-square-foot facility located near South Hellman Avenue and Merrill Avenue.
The fire rapidly spread throughout the structure, fueled in part by large quantities of paper-based products stored inside.
Authorities reported that approximately 20 employees were inside the warehouse at the time the fire broke out, including Abdulkarim.
He was initially unaccounted for during the early stages of the incident but was later located.
Court records indicate he was ultimately taken into custody near the intersection of Harrison Avenue and Limonite Avenue in Eastvale, not far from the fire scene.
Ontario Fire Department Deputy Chief Mike Wedell stated that the fire was quickly deemed suspicious, and investigators identified a person of interest early in the response.
“This fire was very quickly identified as suspicious in nature,” Wedell said. “There was a subject of interest identified very early on in the incident. That subject has been arrested.”
Sources indicate Abdulkarim may have been a disgruntled employee and had posted complaints about his job on social media prior to the incident.
However, investigators are continuing to examine the full motive and circumstances surrounding the case.
The fire prompted a large-scale emergency response, with approximately 140 firefighters working to contain the blaze throughout the day.
Due to the size and intensity of the fire, multiple agencies—including the San Bernardino County Fire Department, Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department, Chino Fire Department, and Riverside Fire Department—assisted in suppression efforts.
Officials estimate the destroyed facility to be valued at approximately $156 million. Despite the scale of the fire, no injuries have been reported.
Kimberly-Clark, a global hygiene products manufacturer known for brands such as Huggies and Kleenex, confirmed that the facility was operated by a third-party partner.
In a statement, a company spokesperson emphasized that safety remains a top priority and said the company is cooperating fully with local authorities as the investigation continues.
The Ontario Police Department and Ontario Fire Department are jointly leading the investigation.
Additional details are expected to be released following an official press briefing.
Crime
5 dead including 3 children in Silver Rail Elementary shooting in Bend, teenage shooter killed by a Good Samaritan
BEND, Ore. — Five people were reportedly killed in a shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in southeast Bend, Oregon, on Thursday, October 15, 2026, including three children, one adult victim, and the teenage suspect, according to preliminary information attributed to federal law enforcement.
The reported shooting prompted a major emergency response involving police, fire crews, and emergency medical services.
Authorities issued an alert at approximately 1:17 p.m., warning of a large police presence at the elementary school and urging the public to avoid the area.
According to the information provided, four victims were killed at the school. Three of those victims were children, while the fourth was an adult. The suspected gunman, described in preliminary reports as a teenager, was also reported dead, bringing the reported total to five fatalities.
The circumstances surrounding the shooting, including the identities of the victims and the suspect, had not been fully established in the information available.
Preliminary reports indicated that the suspected gunman was a teenager and was killed after being confronted by a Good Samaritan.
Earlier scanner traffic reportedly indicated that the suspect had been neutralized. Unconfirmed reports suggested that the individual who intervened may have been a father of a student at the school.
However, authorities had not publicly confirmed all the circumstances surrounding the confrontation or independently verified the reported identity and role of the person who intervened.
Investigators are expected to examine the sequence of events leading up to the shooting, how the suspect was stopped, and whether the suspect acted alone.
The first police alert was issued at approximately 1:17 p.m. Thursday. It described a large police presence at Silver Rail Elementary School and instructed the public to stay away from the area.
Fire and emergency medical services personnel were seen responding near the school as authorities worked to address the reported threat and assist those affected.
The shooting prompted urgent concern among families and the surrounding community, particularly after reports indicated that children were among the victims.
Approximately 10 minutes after the initial alert, police announced a reunification site for students and their families at Journey Church, located at 61303 S. Highway 97 in Bend, near Goodwill and Dairy Queen.
Parents and guardians were instructed to go to the designated location to reunite with students and receive further information.
Authorities urged families to follow official instructions and avoid approaching the school while emergency operations continued.
The reported shooting also prompted precautionary security measures at nearby schools. Parents received alerts indicating that Caldera High School and Jewell Elementary School had been placed on lockdown Thursday afternoon.
The lockdowns were reported as law enforcement responded to Silver Rail Elementary and worked to secure the surrounding area.
Further information was needed to establish how long the lockdowns remained in effect and when normal school operations resumed.
Although preliminary information indicated five deaths, including three children, one adult victim, and the teenage suspect, additional official confirmation is needed regarding the victims’ identities, the suspect’s identity, and the circumstances of the shooting.
The reported involvement of a Good Samaritan also requires confirmation from investigators.
This remains a developing story. Further details should be added as law enforcement and school officials release verified information about the shooting and the investigation.