Chicago arson: Cordale Nichols charged with murder in Bridgeport apartment fire that killed Charnette Walker, CPD says

CHICAGO (WLS) — A man has been charged with the murder of a 54-year-old woman who died in a fire in Chicago's Bridgeport neighborhood.

The fire broke out around 2:21 a.m. Saturday when a man threw an incendiary device through the window of an apartment in the 3100 block of South Green Street, police said.

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The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office identified the woman living in the apartment as 54-year-old Charnette Walker. She died at the scene according to police.

A 12-year-old girl was also injured in the fire. Chicago firefighters took the girl to an area hospital, where she was last listed in fair condition.

Cordale Nichols, 37, was charged with two counts of murder, one count of attempted murder and one count of arson, police said. He also received an annual Armed Offender Registration citation.

Nichols was arrested about 45 minutes after the fire in the 2900 block of South Halsted.

The motive was not immediately clear.

It is unclear whether the suspect and victims knew each other.

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