An employee at a Staten Island ShopRite has been charged with arson in connection with a fire that occurred last Wednesday. The incident, which took place around 3:45 p.m. the day before Thanksgiving, caused more than $100,000 in damages, according to Gothamist. No injuries were reported, as a customer used a fire extinguisher to help contain the blaze.
Dominick Sacchetti, a 21-year-old employee, allegedly started a fire in an aisle containing household cleaning products and paper goods, which quickly spread through the area. Surveillance footage captured the fire’s progression until it was extinguished, the FDNY stated. Sacchetti was later arrested by fire marshals and charged with multiple offenses, including arson, criminal mischief, and reckless endangerment.
FDNY Commissioner Robert S. Tucker commented on the incident, stating, "While residents of Staten Island were beginning to prepare for Thanksgiving with their families, this individual put the lives of shoppers and responding firefighters at risk," in a statement obtained by the Gothamist. He also acknowledged the efforts of the Fire Marshals in apprehending Sacchetti.
Richmond County District Attorney Michael E. McMahon described the incident as serious, reported by the New York Post, stating that Dominick Sacchetti’s alleged actions endangered shoppers and ShopRite employees. He also said the case would be prosecuted fully.
Following his arraignment, Sacchetti’s bail was set at $50,000 cash or $100,000 bond. His attorneys have not issued a public statement regarding the charges.
