Central Islip fire victims were shot first

Officials said the three victims found in a downstairs bedroom had been shot and the fire was set to cover it up.

Police identified two of the victims as Katrice Daniels, 31, who lived at the home, and Louis Calixto, 19. The third victim, a female, remains unidentified.

Police say a 6-year-old boy rescued his 2-year-old sister from the fire. They were found on the front lawn when firefighters arrived on the scene early Tuesday.

Relatives of the deceased arrived late today breaking into tears after seeing Hickory Street cordoned off by police tape and a house all but burned to the ground.

"What more can you say? It's just tragedy," Jesse Scott said.

Scott lives a few doors down and says the inferno lit up and smoked up the street, first crackling then almost exploding.

"All of a sudden, boom! It just burst the whole house like a matchbox," Scott said.

The homeowner says she rented the place to a woman with children, but doesn't know her very well and couldn't elaborate on anything without knowing the circumstances.

"The police just told me three people are dead. I can't even get to the house," she said.