By Binghampton Press and Sun Bulletin:
Binghamton Firefighter John “JR” Gaudet was killed in the line of duty when a wall collapsed at the scene of a fire in downtown Binghamton on Feb. 12.
His death marked the first firefighter line-of-duty death in New York in 2025, and the first in the City of Binghamton Fire Department since 2013.
After a month-long investigation, local law enforcement revealed an arrest had been made, and a man was charged with arson and second-degree murder in Gaudet’s death.
On Friday, March 14, local law enforcement announced they had determined the source of the fire had “human involvement.”
Patrick K. Shea, 36, who police said has no permanent address, was indicted by a grand jury in Broome County Court. He was taken into custody at a Kirkwood residence and has been charged with fourth-degree arson and second-degree murder.
Gaudet was a 40-year-old firefighter who had worked for the Binghamton Fire Department for 11 years.
Gaudet grew up in Binghamton and attended Binghamton High School before continuing his education at Binghamton University and SUNY Cortland.
Read the full story here.
