Police: Fire, Explosion In Edgewood Caused By Homeowner In Apparent Suicide On Daughter's Wedding Day
EDGEWOOD (KDKA) -- Police believe the fire and explosion that destroyed a house in Edgewood was started by the owner on his daughter's wedding day.
Officials were on the 300 block of Garland Street on Saturday after a fire destroyed a home and damaged another.
"A bomb, that is what it sounded like," neighbor Rochelle Levine said.
The owner of the destroyed home was initially unaccounted for, but the police chief said his death has been ruled a suicide.
WATCH: Authorities identify the man involved in the Edgewood explosion.
The man's body was found in the ruins, police said. His car was found with apparent suicide notes in the vehicle.
His name was later identified by the Allegheny County Medical Examiner as 59-year-old John Evans
The bomb squad was also called to the scene late Saturday night, a source told KDKA's Bob Allen.
Residents in the area were evacuated because the source said the man may have rigged something.
Officials are calling the fire suspicious.
"It looks like he disconnected the gas line in the basement of the house," Edgewood Police Chief Robert Payne said. "And of course, it wouldn't take much of a spark to explode the house."
The homeowner's daughter was set to get married today.
One police officer was injured, officials said. The Edgewood police chief tells KDKA's Chris Hoffman that the injured officer broke his wrist.
Police said they had been to the residence before for domestic issues relating to mental illness.
