Chicago man charged with murder in fire that led to death of CFD veteran David Meyer
A man charged with arson has been ordered detained on Saturday, just days after the Chicago Fire Department Capt. David Meyer was killed in a fire on the West Side.
Charles K. Green, 44, was charged on Friday with two felony counts of murder and one felony count of aggravated arson causing bodily harm.
The murder charges both hinge on the strong probability of death associated with starting the fire, according to CBS News Chicago legal analyst Irv Miller.
"If you take a gun, and somebody is 5 feet away from you, and you shoot at his head, you're intending to kill him. However, if you take a gun you shoot over your shoulder, and you just start shooting, that could create a strong probability of death to somebody," he said.
Meyer, 54, was among the firefighters who responded to a garage fire in the 5500 block of W. Crystal Street just after 4 a.m. on Wednesday.
After the fire was extinguished, the garage collapsed, and a beam struck Meyer, critically injuring him. He was rushed to Stroger Hospital, where he died.
Meyer was a 29-year veteran of the Chicago Fire Department and leaves behind a wife and
four children. Black and purple bunting has been hung over the firehouse for Engine 96/Truck 29, where Meyer was assigned.
Police said Wednesday the fire that killed Meyer was the result of human action, and took Green into custody for questioning regarding the origin of the fire.
Investigators said Green was seen on video surveillance alone in the alley before the fire started, with a glowing object in his hand that appeared to be an open flame, standing near the garage.
Police said the video surveillance showed a flashing light and then smoke, which they allege is the beginning of the garage fire, and then smoke coming from the alley.
Green is due in court Saturday for a detention hearing on the murder and arson charges.
"This is the appropriate charge for what happened, assuming they can prove what they say happened," CBS News Chicago legal analyst Irv Miller said. "Aggravated arson is a Class X felony. It carries 6 to 30 [years] in the penitentiary. Murder carries … 20 to 60 years in the penitentiary."
Green has a laundry list of prior offenses – more than 35 in Cook County – mostly for drug possession and theft.
His most recent arrest was in February when he was charged with retail theft for stealing from a Walgreens in Elmwood Park.
"If there were other charges involving arson, those would come before the jury. The fact that he has other crimes not related to arson will not come before the jury down the road, because frankly it's irrelevant how bad a person he is. The only question is does he have a propensity to commit arson?" Miller said.
Funeral plans announced for David Meyer
Meyer is survived by his parents, his wife, three daughters and a son.
A visitation will be held on Monday, April 28 at Malec & Sons Funeral Home, 6000 N. Milwaukee Ave., from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The funeral service will be held Tuesday, April 29, at St. John Brebeuf Parish, 8350 N. Harlem Ave. in Niles, Illinois, at 10 a.m.
The interment will be private.
