Maryland man facing murder charges in fire that killed 3 Baltimore firefighters in 2022

A Maryland man is facing murder charges in the Stricker Street fire that killed three Baltimore firefighters in January 2022. On Monday, he was ordered to be held without bail.

James Barnett, 57, is charged with second-degree arson, second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, and reckless endangerment, according to charging documents obtained by WJZ's media partner, The Baltimore Banner.

Lt. Kelsey Sadler, Lt. Paul Butrim, and EMT/firefighter Kenny Lacayo all died in the fire when they became trapped in the vacant rowhome on Jan. 24, 2022. The reckless endangerment charge is related to John McMaster, who was permanently injured while battling the fire.

During Monday's court hearing, prosecutors argued Barnett has a "complete disregard for human life." 

It was also revealed that Barnett has 13 prior convictions, including for theft from a vacant home and a break-in at another. The judge cited his criminal record in her decision to hold Barnett without bail, 

Surveillance video evidence

Investigators said they were able to connect Barnett to the scene using neighborhood surveillance video that showed the rear of 205 South Stricker Street, where he allegedly entered at 11:23 p.m. the night before the fire on January 23, 2022.

According to the charging documents, the footage captured Barnett creating several flashes of light on the first floor of the rowhome before leaving the scene at 11:31 p.m.

As smoke emerged from the rear of the home and flames began to increase, footage continued to capture the progression of the blaze up until 5:45 a.m., at which point both the first and second floors of the building had been engulfed in flames and were spreading rapidly.

No other person was seen entering the home between 11:31 p.m. and 5:21 a.m. when footage first captured the flames, according to investigators.

After eight days of examining the scene, analysts found that the light source matched the sparks from a flint ignitor and the flame from a butane lighter. This confirmed that the fire was started deliberately using an external ignition source on materials that could burn, according to the charging documents.

Additional surveillance video helped police track Barnett's movements on the night of the fire. Investigators said he was wearing a dark blue and yellow hooded jacket, dark pants, and white and gray Nike sneakers.

Barnett was frequently observed collecting scrap materials in the Carrollton Ridge and Mount Clare neighborhoods. On February 24, police said BPD's CitiWatch camera system recorded Barnett in Carrollton Ridge. The following day, police picked him up for questioning and said he was wearing the same sneakers as the night of the fire. 

Barnett admitted to living at the Stricker Street property several years prior and that the property was vacant at that time. He also admitted to being on the property a month to a month-and-a-half prior, but denied setting a fire.

After officers obtained a search warrant for Barnett's home, they said they found the jacket he wore in the video the night of the fire. 

In a separate interview, Barnett admitted to having had access to the house via the rear entrance after living at the residence for four to five years prior.  He also admitted to entering the home on January 23, 2022, but left due to it being charred and burned up. 

According to charging documents, the building was already at risk of collapse after two fires in 2015 and 2016, which had filled the structure with potential combustible debris, including trash and charred wood.

Official charges announced

In a press conference on Tuesday, Baltimore City State's Attorney Ivan Bates said the loss of the three firefighters has left a void in the Baltimore community. He hopes the latest charges lead to justice for the victims' families.

"This was no small task, and the effort everyone put in is a testament to the loss and a testimony to the lost members of our community that truly laid down their lives to protect all of us," Bates said.

ATF Baltimore Field Division Assistant Special Agent in Charge John Earle said investigators collected a series of evidence from the scene. They also carried out thousands of scientific tests and watched hundreds of hours of video.

"This investigation has been documented in more than 50 ATF reports, including an over 100-page report detailing the origin cause of the fire," Earle said.

Fire Chief James Wallace added that the tireless work from partner agencies led to the arrest nearly four years after the fire. 

 "While nothing can erase our loss, this is a meaningful step toward justice," Wallace said. "This tragedy has strengthened our resolve, our unity, and our commitment to serve and protect Baltimore. We stand with the families of our fallen, with all who are still healing, and with a community that continues to lift us up. We will never stop pursuing accountability in their honor."

Families feel ignored by city leaders

A statement issued by the families of Sadler, Butrim, and Lacayo applauded investigators' "relentless pursuit of justice," yet was critical of city leaders.

"Unfortunately, Baltimore City, through Mayor Brandon Scott and the City Council, has ignored their job and their responsibility to our loved ones," the statement read.

These families re-filed a lawsuit against the city in January, claiming the city was negligent, particularly for failing to notify firefighters that the Code X-Ray program -- which alerts firefighters of unsafe properties -- was discontinued at the time.

A judge dismissed the families' initial lawsuit, ruling it failed to show the city intended to harm the firefighters. But the families' lawyers told WJZ in January that this new lawsuit will do just that.

"As we continue to peel back the layers of the onion, what we learn is that nobody wanted to say, 'Hey, we're not going to do this program anymore, even though it wasn't happening," Kevin Stern, one of the families' lawyers, said.

Mayor Brandon Scott and the Baltimore City Fire Department released a joint statement Saturday, also applauding investigators' efforts in the arrest.

"Our entire city stands with the families of our fallen members and the first responders who continue to keep Baltimoreans safe," Scott said. "Nothing can undo the losses we have suffered. But this arrest is an important step toward justice." 

Barnett was also indicted on 20 counts in June of 2023 for a series of robberies that took place in the Carrollton Ridge neighborhood in January and February of 2022.