Official: Man who died in Waukegan house fire shot self
An unidentified man found in a burned-out Waukegan house Monday had a gunshot wound to the head that appeared to be self-inflicted, Lake County Coroner Dr. Richard Keller said. Waukegan police initially said fire killed the unidentified man early Monday, in the fire that appears to have been set intentionally.
Lt. Ed Fitzgerald of the Waukegan Police Department said the blaze started at about 6:15 a.m. Monday in the 400 block of Julian Street.
Keller said the identity of the victim, a man in his 50s, is being withheld until proper identification can be made, noting "it will take awhile" due to the state of the man's body.
Fitzgerald said crews were called to the blaze after fire was spotted burning through the top of the pitched roof of the two-story house.
Firefighters had trouble entering the house due to intense heat, which also set off about 200 rounds of ammunition inside.
The fire was brought under control at about 8:30 a.m., but not before the exterior of the white house was streaked in black soot and the second floor had collapsed.
Fitzgerald said officials from the fire department as well as the Illinois State Fire Marshall's Office remained at the scene investigating late Monday afternoon.
In addition, he said police officers worked into the day to extract guns and ammunition that were not destroyed in the blaze.
"We have recovered some guns and ammunition at the house," he said. "The fire is classified as suspicious in nature at this time."
Daily Herald staff writer Amie Shak contributed to this story.
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