This is an update to a story initially published on Thursday regarding a fatal fire in Shady Side.
The deceased has been positively identified as William Maurice Minor Jr., 69 of the Lincoln Drive address. The OCME has ruled that the cause of death was a gunshot wound. Members of the Anne Arundel County Fire Department Arson and Explosives Investigation Unit with assistance from Anne Arundel County Police homicide detectives have determined that the cause is suicide. The fire is preliminarily believed to be intentionally set pending laboratory analysis of samples obtained at the scene.
There has been controversy over this fire for a few days. A video emerged that showed a sanitation worker manning a fire hose while firefighters were securing the situation. The Fire Union has criticized County Executive Schuh for not accepting a grant that would have placed additional personnel on the responding engines.