Charles Green charged with murder, arson after David Meyer, Chicago Fire Department captain, dies in Austin garage fire
Share this @internewscast.com

CHICAGO (WLS) — A man has been charged with arson and murder in connection with a West Side fire that killed a Chicago Fire Department captain on Wednesday.

On Friday, Chicago police confirmed that 44-year-old Charles Green, of Chicago’s Austin neighborhood, was taken into custody on Wednesday afternoon hours after the fire, though police have not said how they identified him as a suspect.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

Green has been charged with two counts of murder and one count of aggravated arson for allegedly lighting a fire in a trash bin that investigators say was the cause of the Austin garage fire that killed CFD Captain David Meyer earlier that morning, police said.

News of Green’s arrest comes after police confirmed that a person of interest was in custody on Thursday. Green lives just blocks from the scene of the fire.

Firefighters were called the fire at about 4:03 a.m. Wednesday in the 1200-block of Pine Avenue. The Office of Fire Investigations said the fire was started by someone intentionally igniting the contents of a trash bin.

The fire was out when part of the garage collapsed, critically-injuring Meyer. The 54-year-old later died at Stroger Hospital.

Meyer is being remembered as a hard working, decades-long public servant. The more than 28-year CFD veteran leaves behind a wife and four children.

Thursday was rough for the firefighters at Engine 96 Ladder 29, as those closest to Meyer spent part of the day at a procession that transferred Meyer’s body from the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office to a Northwest Side funeral home.

It was around midday Thursday when the ambulance carrying the remains of Meyer arrived in Norwood Park. Firefighters saluted his casket as it was taken into the funeral home where it will remain for now.

Also on Thursday, crews tore down the garage.

Resident Miriam Alonso shared cell phone video of Wednesday’s fire, which she said is just one in a series of dumpster fires that have been set on her block this year.

“It feels horrendous,” Alonso said. “There are no words for it.”

She was watching in horror as her family’s garage collapsed onto Meyer, shortly after a trash bin fire that spread into the garage was put out. She watched it happen.

“This is so traumatizing. I still have it in replay in my head like how it all happened,” Alonso said. “I hear them still screaming. I still see the smoke… Everything came down. And it hit him right here. All the bricks fell on top of him. We all witnessed that. And we saw everybody panic, ‘he’s down, he’s down.'”

Officials confirmed that so far this year, there have been at least five trash bin fires set a the stretch of West Crystal Street nearby. Two of them caused substantial structural damage after spreading onto nearby properties. Residents believe the same person is behind all of them.

“It’s not an accident,” Alonso said. “Like you’re lighting something on fire. Obviously you’re gong to catch something on fire, you know. Especially you’re doing a trash can. Like, it’s common sense.”

Public visitation for Captain Meyer will take place from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at Malec and Sons Funeral Home in Norwood Park on Chicago’s Northwest Side.

The funeral service follows Tuesday at 10 a.m. at Saint John Brebeuf Church in Niles.

ABC7 is expecting to learn more on Saturday when Green will be scheduled to appear in court.

The video in the player above is from a previous report.

Copyright © 2025 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Fox News contributor fainting on air.

Fox News Contributor Camryn Kinsey’s On-air Collapse Leaves Anchor in Shock

FOX News contributor Camryn Kinsey sparked concern among viewers after collapsing live…
Nathaniel 'Nate' Pelletier, 'When Calls the Heart' actor, dead at 53

Actor Nathaniel ‘Nate’ Pelletier from ‘When Calls the Heart’ passes away at age 53

Nathaniel “Nate” Pelletier, who starred in the popular Hallmark series “When Calls the…
Kelly Bensimon spotted on PDA-packed date with mystery man nearly a year after calling off wedding

Kelly Bensimon Seen on Romantic Outing with Unidentified Man, Nearly a Year After Canceling Wedding

Is Kelly Bensimon back off the market? Page Six has exclusively obtained…
'Reasonable Doubt' season 3 casting news: Morris Chestnut will return and Rumer Willis is among the recurring cast members.

“Exciting Casting Updates for ‘Reasonable Doubt’ Season 3: Morris Chestnut’s Return and Rumer Willis Joins as a Recurring Cast Member”

We have some big news on season three of the hit legal…
Winning: Trump Admin Announces Yuge Trade Pact with United Kingdom

Success: Trump Administration Unveils Major Trade Deal with the United Kingdom

The dominoes are starting to go down. Thursday, the president took to…
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and other US tech leaders testify to Congress on AI competition with China

US Tech Executives, Including OpenAI’s Sam Altman, Address Congress on AI Race with China

WASHINGTON (AP) — OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, along with executives from Microsoft…
Donald Trump in a blue suit and red tie outside the White House.

Trump Appoints Fox News Personality to Key Washington Position, Praising Her as Unique

DONALD Trump has selected Fox News star Jeanine Pirro to be a…
Jeffrey Rupnow, father of 15-year-old Natalie Rupnow, who killed 2 at Madison, Wisconsin religious school, faces felony charges

Jeffrey Rupnow, father of 15-year-old Natalie Rupnow who committed a double homicide at a Wisconsin religious school, charged with felonies

Wisconsin prosecutors have charged a Madison father, Jeffrey Rupnow, with enabling his…
NYC Mayor Eric Adams does victory lap as new state rules make it easier to force mentally ill into treatment

NYC Mayor Eric Adams Celebrates New State Rules That Simplify Compelling Mental Health Treatment

Mayor Eric Adams praised the upcoming amendments to state law that simplify…
Trump fires Librarian of Congress Dr. Carla Hayden in abrupt move

In Sudden Decision, Trump Dismisses Librarian of Congress Dr. Carla Hayden

President Donald Trump unexpectedly fired Library of Congress head Carla Hayden on…
Couple taking a selfie at a restaurant.

38-Year-Old Bodybuilder and His Mother Allegedly Poison Wife After Affair Exposed

A BODYBUILDER allegedly murdered his wife with the help of his mum…
Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Robert Prevost, waving to the crowd.

Meet The New American Pope: Robert Prevost, Known as Leo XIV and Celebrated as a ‘Masterful Diplomat’

CARDINAL Robert Prevost from the US has been elected as Pope –…