"Hero Complex" Firefighter Convicted of Murder

AP, Vanegras (collapsed), Lacey (inset)

Yesterday when 20-year-old Caleb Lacey was convicted of setting a fire that killed a mother and three children, he tried to flee from the premises and was pushed to the ground by court officers, who yelled for quiet in the courtroom. The former-volunteer fireman was found guilty on four counts of murder while committing arson, as well as manslaughter and reckless endangerment.

Lacey allegedly started the Long Island blaze so that he could respond first and look like a hero in front to his fellow firefighters. As the forewoman announced the verdict, which could result in a sentence of 25 years to life, the courtroom erupted in chaos: people on both sides of the aisle were screaming and crying, according to the AP. Lacey reportedly lunged at the gallery after the verdict was read and the widow/father of the victims left the courtroom and collapsed. WABC 7 has video of reactions.

"We're extremely disappointed with the result," Lacey’s lawyer told Newsday. "This was a
circumstantial case. There was no direct evidence of Caleb starting this fire." The primary evidence against Lacey was gasoline found in the young man’s fire pants, but the defense pointed blame at Edit Vanegras, the husband and father of the fire’s victims, who escaped through a window while his near and dear burned to death.

The jury deliberated for five days before deciding on the verdict. "It's exactly the date that he burned them alive, and this is the date they found him guilty," said America Chavez, sister and aunt to the deceased. "It's not going to bring them back, but we're satisfied."

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By Sabrina Jaszi in News on February 20, 2010 12:31 PM

Comments [rss]

Lauren Brandt

its funny everyone (or most of you) are saying that race is a factor. though i think that the statistics show that most arsonists are male, usually between 15 and 30, and predominantly white according to the most reason statistics issued by the fbi in 2006.
so saying that he was convicted "because he was black" does not fit. i believe that the evidence must of been compelling enough to look outside of the stats.
just saying

dgeee

His father said he didn't do and is a scapegoat because he's black and the law had to blame someone. Did the kid admit to the crime? The evidence appeared to be extremely circumstantial.

5borough

Is this going to hurt his lawsuit against the FDNY?

Yahtzee

Probably not. He was black so he must have been discriminated in some way, shape, or form.

This is just another way that the man is trying to oppress him. He should get the job with a watered down written & physical test. And who cares about the felony arson & murder conviction anyway?

He has black skin! He deserves the job before anyone else!

inoyourider

Awesome.

Lock him up for life.

Snoopy

"The primary evidence against Lacey was a gasoline found in the young man’s fire pants," HUH? What is a gasoline?

ed_Extinct

There's no fire escape in hell. Good riddance.

jaycjay

"As the forewoman handed him a sentence of 25 years to life"

Gothamist should require its writers to at least watch Law and Order or something, so they'd understand some small piece of how the legal system works. Juries don't hand down sentences. The jury convicted him; a judge will sentence him eventually. Currently, sentencing is scheduled for April -- according to the article linked to (but, apparently, not read) above.

"The jury deliberated for five days before deciding on the extremely severe sentence"

No way to know yet how "severe" his sentence will be. The jury didn't decide on that, as juries never do. The maximum he could get given the charges the jury convicted him on is 25-to-life, but it's possible that he'll be given a lighter sentence.