By Lawrence Buser
The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)
Copyright 2007 The Commercial Appeal, Inc.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A former store manager responsible for a 2003 business fire in Frayser that claimed the lives of two Memphis firefighters was sentenced to 50 years in prison as expected Friday in federal court.
Anthony Paul Shaw, 25, pleaded guilty in March to starting the fire at the Family Dollar Store at 3732 N. Watkins that took the lives of Lt. Trent Kirk and Pvt. Charles Zachary. Both were 39.
Another firefighter, Pvt. Tim Scott, was injured.
In his March plea, Shaw agreed to accept a 50-year sentence, which was approved Friday by U.S. Dist. Judge Samuel H. Mays.
Federal prosecutors earlier had considered seeking the death penalty.
Investigators determined that Shaw intentionally set the fire on June 15, 2003, to hide his theft from a store safe.
Kirk, who was trapped when the roof collapsed, died at the scene of extensive burns.
Zachary was pulled from the building unconscious and died several hours later at the Regional Medical Center at Memphis from smoke and heat inhalation.
Both men were part of a rescue team that believed Shaw was still inside.
At Shaw’s home, authorities found $110 in cash, $282 in rolled coins and numerous checks made to Family Dollar.
His attorneys said in court papers that Shaw, who had no criminal record, was “a young man that made a bad decision to commit a theft and start a fire. He never meant for anyone to get hurt.”
The families of the deceased firefighters have filed wrongful death suits against the Memphis Fire Department, a breathing apparatus manufacturer and Family Dollar.
Kirk and Zachary were awarded Medals of Honor posthumously and their names have been added to the memorial wall outside the Fire Museum Downtown that lists 50 firefighters who have died in the line of duty since 1880.