Former firefighter charged with arson at NY firefighter’s home – suspect denies racial motive
Police say they have arrested a man in connection with a fire started at a North Tonawanda firefighter’s home.
North Tonawanda police say they arrested 39-year-old Matthew Jurado Thursday just after 7:00 p.m.
Jurado has been arrested and charged with 2nd degree arson after police say he admitted to torching Kenneth Walker’s home. Walker is a member of Gratwick Hose Fire Company in North Tonawanda.
Police said at the press conference that Jurado acknowledged setting the fire but claimed someone else wrote an anonymous, racist and threatening letter to Walker Monday. The letter, which used racist slurs, demanded that Walker resign as a firefighter. Jurado gave investigators the name of a person he said wrote that letter, but they said they are looking into the possibility that Jurado wrote the letter.
Jurado had been let go from Live Hose Company No. 4, a volunteer fire company, in July, Pappas said. Fire officials said Jurado was let go because he didn’t have the proper training.
Jurado seemed to be passionate about being a firefighter. His Facebook feed is filled with photos of himself in turnout gear with the letters NTFD across the back. He has also posted several firefighter-themed slogans, like “I fight what you fear” and “100% pure firefighter.” Workers at a nearby convenience store said they often saw him wearing volunteer firefighter T-shirts and carrying a walkie-talkie.
Mia Sumerson, Niagara Gazette:
“He stated that (starting the fire) was not race related, but rather he was upset with the fire department because he had recently been removed from the volunteer fire department,” said North Tonawanda Detective Capt. Thomas Krantz. “Right now, it’s an ongoing investigation. Still, in regard to the letter, and any other information that comes up, any leads, will be followed up.”
According to Krantz, Jurado told police he is aware of who wrote the letter, and has provided investigators with a name. Authorities are still investigating the possibility that Jurado wrote the letter himself. Krantz added that the specifics of the fire, such has how and where it started, are still under investigation. He declined to comment on whether or not Jurado has a prior criminal record.
Jurado was a member of Live Hose Fire Co., but was removed from service in July for “not meeting the necessary training requirements,” according to North Tonawanda Fire Chief Joe Sikora.
Sikora added that it appears Jurado targeted Walker simply because he was a volunteer firefighter. Officials also say Walker and Jurado were familiar with each other, both from being neighbors and from participating in firefighting training classes together.
The letter Walker received was racist and threatening. It contained the n-word and said, quote, “no one wants you in this city.” We found out about this letter from an email that was sent to our tipline. The person who sent us the tipline, wrote their name was Matt Jurado.
The email reads, “My friend kenneth walker is the only african American firefighter in the city of north tonawanda.He recieved a threatening letter today saying that if he didnt quit the department by the end of the week that he would regret it. There were also racial slurs used. Can you help him. Is this a hate crime.”
