Fire that killed Binghamton firefighter JR Gaudet ruled arson. Man charged with murder
A man has been charged in connection with the fatal fire that killed Binghamton Firefighter John “JR” Gaudet.
On Friday, City of Binghamton Mayor Jared Kraham announced a 36-year-old man was indicted Thursday by a grand jury for second-degree murder and fourth-degree arson in connection with the Main Street fire that killed Gaudet on Feb. 12.
Patrick K. Shea, who police said does not have a permanent address, was taken into custody at a residence in Kirkwood without incident. Binghamton Police Captain Cory Minor said Shea was arraigned Friday in Broome County Court and is being held in the county jail.
Kraham said through their investigation, the Binghamton Police Detective Bureau has been able to determine that the fire started inside the vacant buildings at 1 and 3 Main St. and that there was “human involvement” in the blaze.
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While crews battled the blaze on the night of Feb. 12, a wall collapsed, trapping Gaudet beneath the debris. He was extricated from the rubble but later pronounced dead at the hospital.
Minor said that at this time they cannot provide any additional details on the origin of the fire. He said that it is unknown whether Shea had been living in either of the buildings where the fire began.
The investigation is currently ongoing.
The Binghamton Police Department asks anyone with information to contact the Binghamton Police Detective Bureau at 607-772-7080.
This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Arson, murder charges in fire that killed Binghamton firefighter
