Elderly Cranston Man Dies In House Fire In Apparent Arson-Suicide: Police

CRANSTON, RI — An investigation into a death at a Cranston house fire late Monday night revealed evidence of arson and an apparent suicide, Police Col. Michael Winquist said Tuesday.

Just after 11:30 p.m., emergency responders received several calls about a fire on Beckwith Street at a single-family home with a detached garage. While officers were en route, a neighbor called police and recounted hearing what sounded like a single gunshot before smelling the smoke and learning the adjacent home was on fire.

When officers arrived, police said they found an 80-year-old man in the garage suffering a gunshot wound from a gun located nearby. Emergency officials rushed the man to Rhode Island Hospital in Providence, but he was pronounced dead shortly after. Police have not identified the man.

Once the fire was extinguished, investigators discovered the home had been barricaded, and there were several points of origin where the fire started. Police said a search of the property failed to reveal anyone else inside. According to police, the man lived alone in the house.

Police said preliminary evidence suggests the man intentionally set his home ablaze before taking his own life in the garage. The RI State Medical Examiner will perform an autopsy to confirm the cause of death.

No other injuries or damage to nearby homes were reported.

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