NORTH ADAMS, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) – A man has been arrested in connection to a deadly fire in North Adams Monday morning.
We’re told the victims in the fire were his parents.
According to the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office, 44-year-old, Darius Hazard was taken into custody Monday afternoon, hours after the fire was first reported.
“He confessed that in the early morning hours of Monday, November 24th, he physically assaulted his parents, Venture and Donald Hazard, inside their home,” noted Julia Sabourin, representative of the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office who went on to describe harrowing details about what happened next.
“Following the physical assault, the Defendant also confessed that he poured gasoline on the first floor of the home and set the house ablaze. The Defendant reported this took place between 3:00am and 4:00am. After allegedly setting the house aflame, the Defendant drove away from the house,” explained Sabourin.
Several hours later a fire at the home located at 77 Francis Street was reported via a 911 call from a neighbor at approximately 7:11 a.m.
[READ MORE: 2 dead following North Adams house fire]
The first person on the scene following that 911 call was a North Adams police officer.
“(The) officer noted immense heat coming from the residence and attempted to make contact with individuals inside,” said Sabourin.
Shortly thereafter, firefighters arrived on scene.
“Firefighters immediately entered the residence to locate the individuals inside the house and began fighting the fire. When firefighters located two individuals inside the residence they were both deceased,” explained Sabourin, “The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined that the cause of death for both Venture and Donald Hazard was smoke inhalation.”
We’re told that Darius Hazard lived at that same home on Francis St. with his parents, however when authorities arrived his vehicle was missing and they spotted a dry spot in the driveway where he normally parks.
For authorities this was a clue.
“…(this indicated) that the Defendant was at the house somewhat recently (it had rained the prior evening). A ‘Be on the Look Out’ was issued for the Defendant and his vehicle,” said Sabourin.
Authorities say he didn’t show up at work that morning, which was extremely unusual according to fellow employees because he was always on time for his shifts.
“At approximately 2:00pm, a State Police Detective observed a vehicle matching that of the Defendant’s traveling south on Route 7, North Adams. The vehicle had pulled into the Walmart parking lot, and the license plate number confirmed the vehicle belonged to the Defendant,” added Sabourin.
When police approached the vehicle, they were able to take Darius Hazard into custody without incident.
District Attorney Shugrue saying in part that North Adams firefighters showed tremendous courage in entering the house without hesitation in hopes of saving the residents inside.
“Responding to this type of situation is harrowing and has lasting impacts on first responders. I am thankful for their dedication to this difficult work…My thoughts are with the Hazard family and the North Adams community during this extraordinarily challenging time.”
While Darius Hazard was arraigned in court Tuesday on one charge of Arson, he now faces another arraignment Wednesday in Northern Berkshire District Court in connection to the murders of his parents.
Western Mass News is continuing to follow this Breaking news and we’ll have more details as they develop.
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