A police investigation into the fire in Binghamton that killed a city firefighter found there was "human involvement," and a Broome County grand jury indicted a 36-year-old man on arson and second-degree murder charges, city police said Friday afternoon.
Authorities took Patrick Shea, who does not have a permanent address, into custody in Kirkwood on Thursday, and he was arraigned Friday in Broome County Court, police said.
He's charged in connection with the Feb. 12 fire on Main Street that killed of firefighter John "JR" Gaudet, 40, who was battling the blaze when he became trapped in a portion of the building as it collapsed, according to authorities.
The arrest resulted from an investigation conducted by Binghamton Police detectives, New York State fire investigators through the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services and the county district attorney’s office.
"During this time, investigators were able to prove that the fire started inside the vacant building. The source of the fire was determined to have human involvement and a suspect was developed," police said in a statement Friday.
Gaudet was a veteran member of the fire department and father of three. Two other firefighters were injured fighting the flames.
Police continue to investigate the fire. Police ask that anyone with information to contact the detective bureau at (607) 772-7080.
