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Two Philadelphia Men Convicted In Arson That Killed Firefighter Lt. Sean Williamson
Two Philadelphia men have been convicted for their roles in a 2022 arson fire that killed Lt. Sean Williamson, a 27-year veteran of the Philadelphia Fire Department, federal prosecutors announced on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024.
Al-Ashraf Khalil, 31, and Isaam Jaghama, 31, were found guilty by a federal jury of conspiracy to commit malicious damage by fire and malicious damage by fire of a building used in interstate commerce, according to U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero. Khalil was also convicted of wire fraud and using fire in furtherance of wire fraud.
The fire, set in the early hours of J…
Suspect Arrested For Series of Arsons In Williamsport: Police
A suspect has been arrested for the series of arsons that took place in Williamsport in early November, police said in a Monday, Nov. 18 news release.
Jacob Fichter, 22, of Williamsport, is facing multiple arson-related charges for a series of fires he allegedly started at four locations in the city on Monday, Nov. 4 and Tuesday, Nov. 5, according to the Williamsport Bureau of Police.
The first incident happened at 5 a.m. in the parking lot of the Pajama Factory at 1307 Park Avenue where authorities found several vandalized vehicles, including one that was set ablaze, a previous report by D…
Man Who Arranged Arson Of PA Warehouse Convicted: Police
A New Jersey man was convicted for arranging the 2022 arson of a Bensalem warehouse on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, according to police.
Ramiz Duka, 61, of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, was convicted in federal court for conspiring to set fire to a warehouse located at 1388 Bridgewater Road in Bensalem on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022, the Bensalem Police Department said.
Duka recruited two men to set fire to the warehouse, paying them $15,000 to do so, according to police. Over the course of several weeks, the three men met and planned the arson, ultimately leading to the fire.
While fighting the blaze,…
Convicted Drug Dealer Arrested For Arson Near PA Church: Police
A felon convicted for drug dealing has been arrested for arson, Upper Chichester police announced on Thursday, Oct. 3.
Andre Lamont Armstrong, 56, of Chester, was arrested on Monday, Sept. 23, according to court documents.
Armstrong was wanted in connection to a "suspicious" vehicle fire in the 1600 block of Huddell Avenue around 2:10 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 13, police detailed in a release.
In surveillance videos, police saw the suspect used an accelerant to ignite a vehicle, as Daily Voice previously reported. "Based on some of the evidence already collected, it is believed th…
Wanted: Warrant Issued For Suspected Arsonist, Police In PA Say
A warrant has been issued for a suspected arsonist, Waynesboro police announced on Thursday, Sept. 26.
Maxwell D. Alexander, 22, of Greencastle, has been charged with five counts of arson and related offenses and three counts of criminal mischief after an incident on Old Mill Road at 2:15 a.m. on Monday, June 12, 2023, police detailed in the release.
He is currently serving 24 months of probation for a criminal mischief charge for an incident in Waynesboro that same day, according to a previous court docket. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023.
Anyone with …
Man Shot, Set On Fire In SW Philadelphia: Police
A man was in critical condition after being shot and set on fire in Southwest Philadelphia, authorities said.
On Wednesday, Aug. 28, at about 10:30 a.m., Philadelphia Police responded to a person screaming inside an apartment on the 5400 block of Lansdowne Avenue, in the 19th District.
A 40-year-old man was shot at by a male offender, and then the female offender set the victim on fire, causing burns to his body, police said.
The victim was taken to Jefferson University Hospital by the Philadelphia Fire Department Medic Unit.
Two suspects, a 38-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman, were…
Homeowner Set Fire To Berwyn Residence, DA Says
The two-alarm fire at a Berwyn home last week was set intentionally by the owner, prosecutors believe.
Kathryn Frankel, 41, is charged with arson, criminal mischief, and related counts, said the Chester County District Attorney's Office on Wednesday, July 31.
The fire was "well-advanced" by the time authorities arrived at the 400 block of Leopard Road around 11 a.m. on July 23, Berwyn Fire Company said previously.
Frankel was the only person home at the time of the blaze, and was seen "wandering around the property" before authorities arrived, the DA's Office said. …
Arson: Ex-Wife From WV Sets Ex-Husband's PA Porch On Fire, Police Say
A 60-year-old West Virginia woman is in a Pennsylvania prison after an arson incident at her ex-husband's home, police announce on Friday, June 28.
Georgina Diane Zogby of Maple Avenue, Martinsburg, WV, was arrested following an investigation into a front porch fire at a home in the 600 block of Moore's Mountain Road, Lewisberry at 9:09 p.m. on February 4, 2024, the Fairview Township Police Department detailed in a release.
When officers first responded to the report of the fire, they learned the homeowner was inside the home when noticed that his porch was on fire, according to…
Montco Man Fleeing House Fire Charged With Arson, Police Say
Lower Moreland police were called about an early morning break-in on Sunday, March 10, and arrived to find suspects fleeing a burning home, the department said in a release.
Michael Gonsalves, 42, has been charged with arson, evading arrest, and multiple related counts, authorities said.
It happened around 4 a.m. on the 2200 block of Pine Road, according to police. Officers arrived to find the front porch "engulfed in flames" and saw a man throw an unknown object at the burning home, the release says.
As police approached, the man ran toward a parked Volkswagen sedan, but…
Residential Fire Was Set By Arsonist, Allentown Police Say
One man is accused of arson after authorities responded to a residential fire in Allentown early Monday morning, Feb. 26, according to city police.
Police were called to the 600 block of West Green Street just before 3 a.m. and arrived to find a burning home, the department said.
Max Nadal, a 30-year-old city resident, was arrested after an investigation and charged with felony arson, felony aggravated assault, misdemeanor simple assault, and summary harassment, police said.
Court documents for his case were not immediately available Monday afternoon.
Former Employee Burnt Down Mechanic's Shop In Montco, DA Claims
A Lebanon man is accused of setting fire to a mechanic's shop where he used to work in Willow Grove, according to the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office.
Sean Gahagan, 56, is charged with arson, risking catastrophe, burglary, and related counts, prosecutors said in a release.
Investigators said Gahagan stopped by his former employer, JG Transmissions at 616 Davisville Road, on the morning of Dec. 29 looking for work. He was turned away and left the shop, authorities said.
Around 8:45 p.m. that night, firefighters were called to JG Transmissions and found the bui…
