BALTIMORE — The Baltimore State’s Attorney’s Office has dropped three counts of second-degree murder against a Baltimore man accused of setting a fire in a vacant rowhome in 2022 that killed three firefighters, CBS Baltimore reported.
James Barnett, 58, is on trial for allegedly setting the fire at a rowhome on Stricker Street on Jan. 24, 2022. The fire killed Lieutenant Kelsey Sadler, Lieutenant Paul Butrim and EMT/Firefighter Kenny Lacayo.
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The judge said the state provided sufficient evidence for the jury to potentially reach a finding of guilt on the remaining second-degree arson, involuntary manslaughter and reckless endangerment counts, WBAL reported.
In the state’s opening statement, Assistant State’s Attorney Daniel Salem described how investigators connected Barnett to the fire through surveillance footage tracking his movements.
ATF Special Agent Adam St. John testified he recovered footage from a camera at a nearby mosque showing a person walking toward the back of the rowhome the night before the fire, followed by four flashes of light over about 20 seconds. Investigators believe Barnett was inside for roughly eight minutes, during which the flashes occurred.
The video later showed smoke, sparks and crackling flames as the fire intensified.
St. John said he reviewed 24 hours of continuous footage and testified that no one but the person identified as Barnett was seen leaving the home before the fire.
Barnett’s public defender argued that the evidence would ultimately show Barnett is innocent.
