Fire truck at scene - file photo — Fire truck at scene - File Photo

Mays Landing, NJ — A fire set inside an Atlantic City apartment building escalated into widespread damage affecting multiple units, and the man responsible has now pleaded guilty, prosecutors said. Khalil Washington, 42, admitted to causing the incident that triggered heavy flooding inside the High Gates complex on Absecon Boulevard.

The plea, entered April 24 before Superior Court Judge Joseph Levin, includes a recommended sentence of seven years in New Jersey State Prison.

Fire sparked chain reaction inside apartment building

According to the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, the incident happened on August 18, 2025, when Atlantic City police were called to the High Gates apartment building for a reported fire on the sixth floor.

Investigators say surveillance video captured Washington collecting items from a trash room and setting them on fire in front of an apartment door. The footage then shows him lighting a paper plate and holding it up to a ceiling sprinkler.

That action activated the sprinkler system, unleashing a heavy flow of water that caused extensive flooding throughout the building.

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Suspect injured as sprinkler system activates

Authorities said Washington was taken into custody at the scene and later transported to a hospital for injuries caused by the force of the sprinkler system.

The charge—second-degree causing widespread damage—reflects the scale of the impact, as flooding from sprinkler systems can quickly spread across multiple floors and units in residential buildings.

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Key Points
• Khalil Washington pleaded guilty to causing widespread damage after apartment fire
• Fire triggered sprinkler system, flooding High Gates building in Atlantic City
• Plea agreement calls for 7-year state prison sentence

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Case resolved ahead of trial

The guilty plea avoids a trial and sets the stage for formal sentencing. Assistant Prosecutor Brooke Melissa Hoffner is representing the state in the case.

Officials did not detail the total cost of the damage but emphasized the seriousness of intentionally setting a fire in a residential building.

What happens next

Washington is scheduled to be sentenced on July 17, 2026. The court will determine whether to impose the recommended seven-year prison term as the case moves toward final resolution.

Keywords: Atlantic City fire, New Jersey crime, Atlantic County court

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