Chamel Abdulkarim: Arson suspect pleads not guilty in $500M Ontario warehouse fire

SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, Calif. – An Inland Empire man charged with setting a massive six-alarm fire that destroyed a Kimberly-Clark distribution center in Ontario pleaded not guilty during his arraignment Monday. 

What we know:

Chamel Abdulkarim, a 29-year-old employee of the facility’s logistics provider, is accused of deliberately torching the massive warehouse while documenting the act on his phone.

On April 9, federal prosecutors joined state authorities in filing charges against 29-year-old Chamel Abdulkarim, a Highland resident.

According to a federal affidavit, Abdulkarim—an employee of NFI Industries (the facility’s logistic provider) —recorded himself during the act, allegedly setting fire to multiple pallets of paper goods. 

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The fire destroyed the 1.2-million-square-foot facility and caused an estimated $500 million in damage. The building, which housed household goods like Kleenex and Cottonelle, suffered a total roof collapse and is considered a complete loss.

Dig deeper:

In the video, recorded early Tuesday morning, Abdulkarim is allegedly seen setting fire to multiple pallets of paper goods inside the warehouse.

The Justice Department further alleges that Abdulkarim sent text messages and made phone calls boasting about the destruction. 

“I just cost these [expletive] billions,” one message allegedly read. Another stated, “All you had to do was pay us enough to live… Didn’t see the shareholders picking up a shift.”

Officials said Abudlkarim also compared himself to Luigi Mangione, the 27-year-old suspect accused of the December 2024 fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City.

Abdulkarim was arrested two miles from the scene.

Timeline:

• Tuesday, April 7: The fire breaks out at 12:30 a.m. Abdulkarim is arrested two miles from the scene later that morning.
• Thursday, April 9: The U.S. Department of Justice files a federal criminal complaint following an investigation by the FBI and ATF.
• Friday, April 10: DOJ charges Abdulkarim with deliberately setting the fire.
• Monday, April 13: Abdulkarim pleads not guilty during his arraignment at San Bernardino County Superior Court.
• Wednesday, May 6: Abdulkarim is due back in court. 

What we don’t know:

A motive remains under investigation as authorities continue to look into Abdulkarim’s social media activity and digital footprint.

What’s next:

He is due back in court May 6 for a pre-preliminary hearing. He remains in custody without bail. 

If convicted on the federal charges alone, Abdulkarim faces up to 20 years in prison.

Kimberly-Clark indicated it will provide more detailed information on the financial impact during its quarterly update on April 28.