Man Found Dead In Chelsea Home After Fire, Standoff With Police
CHELSEA (CBS/AP) — Authorities say a Chelsea man who barricaded himself inside a house and exchanged fire with officers was found dead of a gunshot wound after the building went up in flames.
Suffolk County District Attorney Dan Conley said Tuesday evidence suggests 38-year-old Kelly Pastrana deliberately set the fire while still inside the home Monday.
Officers had responded to a report of a man threatening to shoot his wife. They say Pastrana fired at them from inside. No officers were shot.
"During the standoff the suspect pointed a firearm outside a window at troopers and officers on the perimeter and fired multiple additional shots at them," State Police spokesman David Procopio said. "Officers returned fire in an attempt to end the threat to their safety and the safety of the neighborhood."
The house caught fire shortly after the shooting.
"I heard like six gun shots," a young man told WBZ. "I never seen something like that ever in my life. I'm glad I'm alive because I was standing right there."
Officials said it's unclear if Pastrana shot himself or was hit by police. Authorities say he died from a gunshot wound and injuries from the blaze.
Authorities say a woman and her 10-year-old daughter ran out of the home and are safe.
"The mother was very distraught. The little girl, they were trying to keep her out of the picture," neighbor Cindy Velleca told WBZ-TV. "It's traumatizing to see something like that."
A cousin, Emanuel Santiago-Ortiz, had no answers.
"This is the ending of something beautiful, because they really worked really hard," he said. "The wife is an awesome woman, a great mom."
(© Copyright 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
