New Jersey man charged with arson and firearms violations in Brick Township’s ‘Shotgun Wildfire’
(Updated Nov. 11, 2024) You may have seen the horrific news footage about the devastating wildfires going on in California and New Jersey. Yesterday, we learned that not only was one of the many current New Jersey wildfires the result of an arson, but we also learned the identity of the alleged arsonist. The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office announced yesterday that a Jersey man has been charged with arson in connection with the wildfire burning through Jackson Township that erupted on Wednesday and burned through at least 350 acres.
Prosecutors identified the 37-year-old arsonist as Richard Shashaty of Brick Township. Saturday evening. Shashaty was charged with arson and violation of regulatory provisions relating to firearms in connection with the Jackson Township wildfire, named the Shotgun Wildfire by the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. ~ CBS News
Background: On November 6 at approximately 12:15 p.m., the Jackson Township Police and Fire Departments along, with the Department of Environmental Protection’s New Jersey Forest Fire Service, were dispatched to the area of the Central Jersey Rifle Range on Stump Tavern Road for a report of a wildfire. The fire has burned approximately 350 acres. Am investigation described as “thorough and extensive” was conducted by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Arson Squad, New Jersey Forest Fire Service, Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office, Jackson Township Police Department Detective Bureau, New Jersey State Fire Marshal’s Office, New Jersey State Police Office of Emergency Management, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection-New Jersey Fish and Wildlife, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit.
Their investigation revealed that the origin of the fire was started behind a berm in the Southwest corner of the Rifle Club, and the fire was caused by magnesium shards of a Dragons Breath 12-gauge shotgun round igniting available combustibles on the berm of the shooting range. The firing of this type of incendiary or tracer ammunition is prohibited in the State of New Jersey.
Further investigation revealed that Shashaty was responsible for firing the ammunition and igniting the fire. On November 9, Shashaty surrendered himself to Jackson Township Police Headquarters in the presence of his attorney. He was transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he is presently lodged pending a detention hearing.
Prosecutor Billhimer and Commissioner LaTourette acknowledge the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit-Arson Squad, New Jersey Forest Fire Service, Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office, Jackson Township Police Department Detective Bureau, New Jersey State Fire Marshal’s Office, New Jersey State Police Office of Emergency Management, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection-New Jersey Fish and Wildlife, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, for their combined and cooperative efforts in connection with this investigation.
As of Friday evening, officials said that the Brick Township wildfire had been 90% contained after burning through 350 acres. At least 40 brush fires have been popping up due to the dry and windy conditions in the Garden State. A fire in Passaic County, NJ, “spread into New York to Greenwood Lake, a village in Orange County,” according to ABC 7 ABC News.
That is when the fire turned deadly. A tree fell on parks employee who was working with the Plattekill Fire Department, according to East Duchess County Fire and Ranger. New York State Police identified the victim as Dariel Vasquez, an 18-year-old Parks and Recreation Aid employed by the New York State Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Department.
For more on the New Jersey wildfires, see the video accompanying this article.
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(Cover photo, Richard Shashaty, Booking Photo, Image Credit: Ocean County Jail)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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