North Richmond Fire Death Ruled A Homicide

Richmond CA

10 December, 2020

2:44 PM

Description

NORTH RICHMOND, CA — The death of a 23-year-old man in a house fire in North Richmond early Tuesday morning is now being classified as a homicide, Contra Costa County sheriff's officials said Wednesday. Virillio Patino-Cruz died in a fire in the 1800 block of Giaramita Street that deputies initially responded around 4:45 a.m. Tuesday on a request by the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District to assist with traffic control. Patino-Cruz was found unresponsive in the home and was taken to a hospital where he later died. An autopsy Wednesday determined his cause of death was carbon dioxide intoxication due to smoke inhalation. No suspect information related to the case was immediately available. Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff's Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600 or dispatch at (925) 646-2441. Tips can also be sent to [email protected] or by calling (866) 846-3592. Copyright 2020 by Bay City News, Inc. —Republication, Rebroadcast, or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.