By FireRescue1 Staff
NEW YORK — Police arrested the man whose apartment exploded Tuesday, killing an FDNY battalion chief and injuring several others.
Julio Salcedo, 32, was arrested in New Jersey, reported ABC News.
He had been renting the two-story home that exploded after firefighters responded to a call regarding gas. When crews arrived at his home, Salcedo reportedly exited the house and fled before the explosion. The explosion killed 17-year veteran FDNY Battalion Chief Michael Fahy.
After the explosion, officials discovered remnants of a marijuana-growing operation.
Salcedo has been arrested at least five times, on charges of strangulation, unlawful imprisonment and grand larceny.
The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms and NYPD are investigating the incident to determine if the explosion was connected to the suspected marijuana growing operation.
Rest easy Battalion Chief Michael J. Fahy. He was a 17 year FDNY vet. killed this morning in a drug lab explosion in the Bronx pic.twitter.com/aS7OEIdKor
— Josh Creed (@creedguy1) September 27, 2016
Large multi-agency response to house explosion in the Bronx. @FDNY, @NYPDnews, @nycoem, amongst others. pic.twitter.com/LLVk6LFy6s
— NYC Mayor’s Office (@NYCMayorsOffice) September 27, 2016