7TH VICTIM DIES IN BALTIMORE ARSON TIED TO DRUG FIGHT

BALTIMORE -- An East Baltimore man who was badly burned in an arson fire
that killed his wife and five of her children died today.

The man, Carnell Dawson Sr., 43, had been the sole survivor of the Oct. 16
fire, which the authorities said was set in retaliation for his wife's
repeated confrontations with drug dealers outside the family's home.

Mr. Dawson, who had jumped from a second-floor window to escape the flames,
died this afternoon at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore.

Darrell L. Brooks, a 21-year-old who once worked as a clerk for the
Baltimore City Council and lived a few doors from the Dawsons, has been
arrested. The police said Mr. Brooks kicked in the door of the Dawsons'
home after 2 a.m., poured out gasoline and ignited the fire. He was being
held without bond on first-degree murder, arson and numerous other charges.

Mr. Dawson's death came on the eve of a funeral for his wife, Angela M.
Dawson, 36, and five of her children, ages 8 to 14. Mrs. Dawson also had an
18-year-old daughter who did not live at the house.

After the fire, in tense meetings and at rallies and vigils attended by
hundreds of people, ministers and residents called on the city to increase
police patrols in the neighborhood, improve its schools and housing and
strengthen drug treatment, recreation and economic development efforts.

On Monday, Baltimore's mayor, Martin O'Malley, said Maryland had agreed to
provide more than 100 state troopers to patrol city thoroughfares, hire 75
more parole officers and provide more jail space to help the city fight
drug-related violence. Mr. O'Malley said he was also pushing for more
protection of those who report drug dealing.