Chicago firefighter killed: Two men charged with murder, third with fraud
CHICAGO - Two men have been charged with the murder of a Chicago firefighter who died while battling a multi-alarm fire that they allegedly started intentionally in April 2023 in the West Pullman neighborhood.
Martez Cristler, 22, and Nicholas Virgil, 37, allegedly set a home on fire on April 4, 2023, in the 12000 block of South Wallace Street, according to police. Firefighter Jermaine Pelt was one of those who responded to extinguish the blaze. Pelt was working a hose line when conditions worsened, and firefighters were ordered out of the building
"It appears that firefighter Pelt went down as crews were being ordered out of the building. A mayday was called and he was quickly found near the hose line and brought out for treatment," Fire Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt said.
Paramedics and firefighters "worked feverishly" to perform CPR on Pelt as he was being transported to Advocate Christ Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.
Cristler and Virgil were arrested Tuesday in Calumet Park and Riverdale, respectively. They were each charged with one felony count of:
- First-degree murder
- Murder - strong probability death/injury
- Murder - other forcible felony
- Aggravated arson that injured a fire or police official
- Aggravated arson with a person present
- Aggravated arson causing bodily harm
Anthony Moore, 47, was charged with financial crimes in connection with the arson.
He was charged with two felony counts of wire fraud, one count of insurance fraud, one count of forgery making or altering a document and one count of forgery issuing or delivering a document.
"A rapid intervention team was sent back in, where they discovered firefighter Pelt face down in the attic. Debris and a dresser were on top of him, and his mask had dislodged from his face," said Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney Mike Pekara.
Pelt died in the neighbor’s home where the fire had spread, but prosecutors said the initial blaze began near a stairwell on the second floor of a fake rental home, which was owned by Moore.
Prosecutors said he lied his way through paperwork to get it insured, though there were never any tenants. Moore is now charged with insurance and wire fraud and forgery.
His co-defendants, Cristler and Virgil, are both facing first-degree murder and aggravated arson charges, accused of setting the fire by using hand sanitizer, court documents show.
"When used as an accelerant, hand sanitizer initially ignites with a flash but then dies down and smolders before fire catches and begins to blaze. Nearby surveillance video captures an initial flash, but smoke is then not seen for about two hours," said Pekara.
He added detectives tracked the defendants' locations with cell phone records, license plate readers and surveillance videos.
"One minute and 20 seconds after the individuals were seen walking towards the house at 12017 South Wallace, the reflection of a bright flash can be seen on a work truck parked near the building," said Pekara.
Then prosecutors said the two were seen walking out of the home and circling the block in their cars, several times.
Pelt’s family along with Chicago Fire's top brass were in court Friday for the defendants' first court appearance but declined to comment to the media.
Pelt had served with the department for 18 years and was also an EMT, a nurse and training officer. He left behind two children, a 6-year-old and an adult daughter he had recently walked down the aisle for her wedding.
His dad said he was ambitious, smart and had job offers from both the police and fire departments after getting his Master’s degree.
"Jermaine was just a joy to all our family," said his father. "Everybody loved him and I don't think anybody loved him more than his mama."
All three men had detention hearings on Friday.
According to the Cook County State's Attorney's Office, Cristler and Virgil remain detained and Moore has been released until his pre-trial hearing.
The next court date for all three is set for Aug. 14.