John Gaudet Obituary, Death; – A man has been charged with arson and murder by a Broome County Grand Jury in relation to a fire that resulted in the death of a firefighter in Binghamton last month.
On Friday, the Binghamton Police Department announced the arrest of Patrick K. Shea, 36, on March 13, following an investigation that concluded the fire at a vacant building on Main Street in downtown Binghamton on February 12 was intentionally set.
The blaze claimed the life of John Gaudet, 40, an 11-year veteran of the Binghamton Fire Department, who succumbed to his injuries at Wilson Hospital after being trapped under debris when a wall collapsed. According to the Binghamton Police, Shea’s arrest and subsequent indictment were the results of extensive interviews and the analysis of numerous hours of surveillance footage.
“The Binghamton Police Department continues to keep John Gaudet’s family and the members of the Binghamton Fire Department in their thoughts and prayers,” stated Binghamton Police Chief Joseph Zikuski. “The dedicated personnel of the Binghamton Police Department have invested and will continue to invest significant time in investigating this tragedy.
We are committed to holding accountable those responsible for the loss of life and property, both in this case and in others, past and future.” At that time, the Syracuse Fire Department had conveyed their condolences to the Binghamton Fire Department. The Binghamton Police Department has indicated that the investigation is still ongoing.
