Man Charged With Murder In Death Of Worcester Firefighter Christopher Roy
WORCESTER (CBS) - The death of Worcester firefighter Christopher Roy late last year has been ruled a homicide and a man was charged with his murder Friday.
Roy, a 36-year-old father of a young daughter, died fighting a five-alarm fire at a home on Lowell Street December 9. He was a two-year veteran of the department.
Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early Jr. said Worcester Police arrested 21-year-old Momoh Kamara at his home in West Boylston Friday morning. Kamara is charged with second-degree murder, arson and armed burglary. He pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him at his arraignment in Worcester District Court and was ordered held without bail.
Early said the fire was set in the basement of the home and that Kamara once lived there. He was not living there at the time of the fire, Early said, but he knew people who did. An autopsy determined that Roy died of smoke inhalation, the D.A. said at an afternoon news conference announcing the charges.
"While the current finding, that the fire that took the life of Firefighter Christopher Roy was arson, our focus continues to be on the safety and well-being of Chris' daughter, Ava, and the Roy family," Rich MacKinnon, president of the Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts, said in a statement.
"As firefighters we take an oath to protect the public at all costs and understand the inherent risks with each call. We thank District Attorney Joe Early, Jr., for his comprehensive investigation and ask the public to keep the Roy family in your thoughts as they continue to grieve and attempt to move forward, and give them the privacy they deserve."
Worcester Firefighters IAFF Local 1009 established a fund back in December to benefit Roy's 9-year-old daughter Ava.
Checks made out to the AVA ROY FUND can be mailed to the Worcester Fire Department Credit Union at 34 Glennie St., Worcester, MA 01605.
Roy's mother, Michelle, said he "lived for his daughter."
