A triple murder suspect is locked up in Orange County, hours after an arrest warrant was issued.
Detectives said LaRunne Richardson killed a woman and two children March 11 at the Misty Oaks Apartments, and then set it on fire.
Before 2:30 a.m. Thursday, Richardson turned himself into the Orange County Jail with his attorney at his side.
He is facing three counts of first-degree murder.
Richardson's attorney, Carlus Haynes, said his client claims he was the victim of an attack when the murders happened. Haynes said Richardson believes detectives should be looking for the two men who attacked him.
"He explained to them that he was injured in this incident," Haynes said. "That he arrived to the house, he was struck in the head and face and rendered unconscious and when he woke up, the place was in a blaze."
Weeks after the deadly fire, deputies named Richardson a person of interest in the case.
They didn't get an arrest warrant until Wednesday night.
Investigators said Richardson initially reported the fire, but actually killed 29-year-old Carllans Fils-Aime and two sons, 8-year-old Jacque Gustave and 6-year-old Samuel Gustave.
Haynes said Richardson has been emotionally stressed since the fire. He received extensive medical care and two surgeries as a result of the injuries he sustained in the fire.
"To be told that he's been a suspect in his friend's death has been very traumatizing for him,” Haynes said. “It also bothers him that some of the family members thought he was on the run and wasn't being cooperative. That was not true."
Investigators said Richardson burned the apartment after the murders to try and cover up what he did.
Richardson will face a judge at 1:30 p.m. Thursday.