A New York grand jury has indicted a 36-year-old man in connection with a February fire that killed a Binghamton firefighter.
The grand jury in Broome County on Thursday charged Patrick K. Shea with second-degree murder and fourth-degree arson in the February 12 fire that erupted in an empty building and quickly spread to a neighboring structure, according to WNBF.
Section of one of the buildings collapsed, trapping firefighter John “JR” Gaudet. Other firefighters freed him, and he was taken to Wilson Medical Center in Johnson City, where he died. Two other firefighters were injured.
MURDER INDICTMENT ANNOUNCED: Binghamton Mayor Jared Kraham says a suspect in the Main Street blaze that resulted in the death of firefighter John “JR” Gaudet is being held in Broome County Jail. Watch the video and read the WNBF News story: https://t.co/Is6treNTzM pic.twitter.com/jQY07sInks
— Bob Joseph (@BinghamtonNow) March 14, 2025
Investigators ultimately determined that the fire’s source had “human involvement” and identified Shea as a suspect. He was arrested on Friday, officials said at a news conference.
Officials did not provide more information about how the fire started or what led them to Shea as the suspect.
He was arraigned Friday morning and is being held at Broome County Jail.
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[Featured image: Patrick Shea/Broome County Jail and John “JR” Gaudet/Binghamton Fire Department]