2 Men Charged With Manslaughter in Bronx House Explosion That Killed FDNY Battalion Chief

What to Know

Two men were indicted on manslaughter charges in connection with an explosion at a marijuana grow house that killed a fire battalion chief
Garivaldi Castillo, 32, and Julio Salcedo, 34, had previously been charged with assault and marijuana possession, prosecutors say
FDNY veteran Michael Fahy died in late September after being hit by debris from the explosion while responding to a report of a gas leak

Two men have been indicted on manslaughter charges in connection with an explosion at a marijuana grow house in the Bronx that killed a fire battalion chief.

Prosecutors say 32-year-old Garivaldi Castillo, of Manhattan, and 34-year-old Julio Salcedo, of the Bronx, were arraigned on the upgraded charges Tuesday. They had previously been charged with assault and marijuana possession.

FDNY veteran Michael Fahy died in late September after being hit by debris from the explosion while responding to a report of a gas leak at the house.

NYPD Commissioner James O’Neill said Thursday that a leak from an illegal gas hookup caused the explosion in the Bronx this week that killed an FDNY Battalion Chief Michael Fahy. Meanwhile, grieving firefighters were mourning Fahy. FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro announced Thursday that Fahy will be posthumously promoted to deputy chief.

The new indictment says the defendants "recklessly" caused Fahy's death by sealing the windows of the grow house causing gas to become trapped inside the building and causing it to explode.

Defense attorneys claim the men are innocent.