Dallas apartment explosion: Man accused of shooting, damaging gas line

DALLAS - Police have arrested a person in connection to the apartment explosion that injured eight people, including four Dallas firefighters.

Phillip Dankins, 28, is charged with seven counts of deadly conduct.

According to police reports, Dankins allegedly fired into an apartment hours before the explosion, striking a stove and cutting a gas line.

Later, when firefighters came out to investigate a smell of gas, the building at the Highland Hills Apartments in Oak Cliff exploded.

MORE: Dallas apartment explosion injures 8, 3 firefighters in critical condition

It’s still unclear how the shooting started and what led up to the shooting. Dallas police are only releasing limited information.

But for the family of one of the victims. The news has been emotional.

Dallas firefighter Christopher Gadomski has been in the hospital for 21 days. The 49-year-old captain is still recovering after he was severely injured in last month’s apartment explosion in Oak Cliff. 

Nearly 25% of his body is badly burned. Both of his legs are broken. 

"He’s been an inspiration," said his brother, Brendan Gadomski.

MORE: Firefighter injured in dallas apartment explosion released from hospital, 2 still hospitalized

Meanwhile on Tuesday, Dallas police say they believed they know what caused the September explosion, which injured eight people, including four firefighters. Hundreds of residents were displaced. 

"It was an emotional day today finding out that they were able to file the charges," Brendan said.

Seven deadly conduct charges were filed on Tuesday in connection to the blast against Dankins.

Police say hours before the explosion, Dankins was involved in an altercation. A weapon was fired inside an apartment. A bullet hit a stove and severed a gas line. 

On the morning of Sept. 29, Dallas Fire-Rescue came out to investigate a gas odor at the complex when the apartment exploded. Multiple buildings were damaged. 

At the time, investigators only disclosed that home appliances were part of the investigation. 

Resident Audelia Camarillo says she heard gunshots the night before the blast. 

"The police asked, ‘Did you hear gunshots? How many times how many rounds did you hear?’ she recalled.

For almost three weeks, Camarillo’s family has bounced from hotel to hotel. The city of Dallas is paying for their stay until hot water and gas are restored. 

"We anticipate that the gas will be turned on sometime [Wednesday] at Highland Hills Apartments," she said.

Camarillo received an email Tuesday afternoon saying her stay has been extended to Thursday. 

"Waiting on someone else to answer all the questions," she said.

But for Brendan, there’s no question the firefighters who showed up on that September day are heroes. 

"The citizens of Dallas should be proud for the fire department they have working for them," he said.

Dankins was arrested on Oct. 3 on separate charges. He is in the Dallas County Jail with those new seven charges filed. He has a federal gun charge against him as a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. He’d been previously convicted for an aggravated robbery in 2010.

Two firefighters still remain in the hospital. One was released over the weekend. 

Police have arrested a person in connection to the apartment explosion that injured eight people, including four Dallas firefighters.

Dallas police filed criminal charges on Tuesday of deadly conduct against a suspect accused of causing that explosion by shooting into an apartment and damaging a gas line.

The explosion happened the morning of Sept. 29 at the Highland Hills Apartments.

MORE: Dallas apartment explosion injures 8, 3 firefighters in critical condition

Firefighters were on scene investigating a gas odor when the explosion destroyed one building and damaged several surrounding buildings.

Police say Phillip Dankins, 28, was involved in a disturbance several hours before the shooting. 

Dankins had already been arrested on Oct. 3 on a family violence warrant. Now, the seven counts of deadly conduct have been added to his arrest record.

Dallas police say the arrest was made possible with help from the ATF and arson investigators.

MORE: Firefighter injured in Dallas apartment explosion released from hospital, 2 still hospitalized