Fatal Liquor Store Fire Caused By Man Found Dead With Chains Around His Wrists: Police

REDWOOD CITY, CA — A man who died alongside another man in a Redwood City liquor store fire last year intentionally brought gasoline into the business and set it on fire, police announced Thursday.

The Redwood City Police Department released new findings Thursday from its investigation into the Nov. 3 fire at Avenue Liquors that killed Benigno Nuguid Pare, 56, and Anil Kumar Sharma, 25.

Investigators believe Pare intentionally introduced gasoline into a loft area near the rear of the business and ignited it, police said.

Both men were found in the loft, where investigators detected the odor of gasoline. Pare was found with a chain around both wrists secured by a lock, according to police.

A subsequent examination found that the chain was tightly secured around one of Pare's wrists but loose around the other.

Police said their conclusion was based on physical evidence, witness statements, surveillance video and the overall investigation.

Both the front and rear exits of the business were secured from the inside, and investigators found no evidence that anyone else participated in the incident, police said.

The findings provide new answers more than nine months after the early-morning fire. Firefighters responded around 5:30 a.m. Nov. 3 to Avenue Liquors on Roosevelt Avenue and found the building fully engulfed in flames.

While fighting the fire, crews cut into the roof and spotted what appeared to be two people inside. After the building was deemed safe to enter, officers confirmed that both men had died. At the time, police said investigators did not know why the men were inside the business when the fire began or what had caused the blaze.

Police said some evidence is still being examined, but investigators do not currently expect the outstanding results to materially change their conclusions.

The investigation will remain active until the remaining evidence examination is completed.

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