A Florida man has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder, animal cruelty, and arson after a fire in a home near Plant City, Hillsborough County, resulted in the deaths of four people and three dogs early Wednesday morning.
Shawn Gossett, 25, was arrested and charged following a swift investigation by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities say Gossett, who lived in the house, used a Bic lighter to ignite paper towels, setting the home ablaze.
The incident began just after midnight when Hillsborough County 911 dispatchers received a call reporting smoke and flames, saying occupants were trapped inside the burning home on South County Line Road. Firefighters arrived at the scene around 12:09 a.m. and found the house fully engulfed in flames. Despite their efforts, they were unable to save the four people inside.
Fire rescue officials reported that they discovered three victims in one part of the home, and pulled them out through a bedroom window. The fourth victim was found later in another section of the house. All four individuals were pronounced dead at the scene, along with three of the five dogs.
Firefighters work the scene of a deadly house fire early Wednesday, July 31, 2024 in Plant City, Fla. Shawn Gossett, 25, was charged with four counts of first-degree murder along with charges of animal cruelty and arson.
Danilo Alvarez/Hillsborough County Fire Rescue via AP
“This is an utterly senseless and horrific crime where four innocent lives were tragically taken due to the evil actions of this man,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister in a news release. “I want to commend our detectives and our partners at Hillsborough County Fire Rescue for their swift actions, which resulted in the arrest of this individual, and their relentless efforts to ensure justice is served.”
During a news conference, Hillsborough Chief Deputy Joseph Maurer said that Gossett had confessed to setting the fire, although no motive was known. Gossett, who was uninjured, had been a friend of the family and lived with them at the residence, authorities said.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is working with the Medical Examiner’s Office and Fire Rescue to identify the victims. Property records indicate that the main building on the 3.85-acre property is a two-bedroom manufactured home built in 1994, purchased by Edison Arias in 2020.
Shaun Michael Martinez, a friend of the victims, spoke to ABC Action News about his last encounter with two of the victims, just a day before the fire, when they had asked for his help with their car.
“I’m here so I can, like, give respect to them because they’re like family to me,” Martinez said at the scene. “I know how they feel because I lost my brother-in-law and my niece and my nephew in a fire a year ago. I know it’s very hard for them. So if their family members need anything, we’re here to help.”
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