Man tried to kill roommates by allegedly setting fire to Myrtle Beach area apartment
A Myrtle Beach area man has been charged with attempted murder and arson for allegedly setting a Myrtle Beach apartment on fire using 3 gallons of gasoline, police reports say.
Jake Licoski, 55, was arrested Sunday after a fire at a multi-unit apartment building drew emergency responders to the West Flintlake Court area. Crews discovered it may have been set on purpose.
When officers spoke to one of the victims, she said Licoski had set the apartment on fire because he was upset they weren’t renewing their lease.
One of the three victims said they and their other roommates were planning on moving soon, which upset Licoski, who had nowhere else to live, the incident report says. Their unit sustained significant fire damage, a Facebook post by Horry County Fire Rescue said.
The victims were alerted by the smell of gasoline in the apartment, and one of the roommates went downstairs to see someone closing the door and lighting the gasoline, the incident report says. The victims had to jump from the apartment’s window to escape, since the only exit had been set on fire.
Lisoski set fire to the floor of the apartment while the victims were inside, pouring gasoline in front of the victims’ bedroom and in front of the stairs that served as the only exit from the apartment, arrest warrants state.
One of the victims was standing in the gasoline when it was lit, and suffered second-degree burns on both of her feet, resulting in blisters and skin peeling away, an arrest warrant claims. She was transported to the hospital, and may need repeated medical care for the injuries, according to the incident report.
Officers tracked down Licoski’s vehicle after he fled from the scene laughing, the incident report says. Liscoski did not stop at a traffic stop, resulting in a chase by police that ended with Licoski’s vehicle crashing, the report continues.
Alongside three counts of attempted murder and one count of arson, Lisocki faces charges of failure to stop for a blue light and having alcohol in his vehicle with the seal open.
Licoski remains in J. Reuben Long Detention Center without bail.
This story was originally published September 2, 2025 at 9:34 AM.
