Police say former firefighter Matthew Jurado, 39, who lives across the street from Kenneth Walker, has been charged with second-degree arson after he admitted to starting the blaze on Wednesday, reportedly in the family’s living room, reports Buffalo News.
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Although the family was out of the house at the time, their two cats perished and everything they owned was destroyed in the fire.
Walker received a letter in his mailbox on August 1 threatening that if he didn’t quit his job as a volunteer firefighter, he would “regret it”.
Police talked about the reason Jurado gave them for setting the fire, and what Jurado said about the letter, at a press conference late Friday night.
The FBI is now looking into the case.
On Monday, Walker received a typed letter in his mailbox, warning him that if he did not quit his position as a volunteer firefighter he would “regret it”. Jurado was recently released from a nearby township’s fire department because of lack of training and skill.
And for now, Walker said he’s planning to remain a firefighter. Jurado did not have an attorney at his first court appearance and the judge entered a “not guilty” plea for him.
Police said Jurado told them this act was not race related. He was upset that he had been let go from the fire department.
Authorities have not confirmed a link between the letter and the fire as of this writing. The fire, which did not injure anyone, “appears to be of a suspicious nature”, the mayor said.
North Tonawanda Mayor Arthur G Pappas called the incidents “distasteful” and “hateful”, and said local police were investigating alongside the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
“I’m not going to resign”, Walker said.
The family said they lost everything in the fire. Police say his anger at the situation led to his actions against Walker. A large number of donations have already been made, and Gratwick Hose Co. will be accepting additional donations from 10 a.m.to 2 p.m. Sunday at its fire hall, 110 Ward Road. “The suspect says he didn’t write the letter”, Sands said.
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A GoFundMe account was set up to support Walker and his family, and as of Friday, nearly $115,000 was raised, only $5,000 short of the $120,000 goal.
