Verdict Reached In Philadelphia Building Collapse

The jury has reached a verdict in the criminal trial against the contractor charged in the deaths of six people in the 2013 collapse of a Salvation Army thrift shop on 22nd and Market.

Griffin Campbell, 51, was found guilty of manslaughter in the 2013 incident, authorities said. Deliberations on the case began Monday morning at about 9:30 a.m., and the jury had its decision by the early afternoon.

On June 5, a wall fell from a building being demolished onto the thrift store below, killing six and injuring 13 more.

Sean Benschop, 44, the machine operator, pled guilty in July to six counts of involuntary manslaughter, 12 counts of reckless endangerment, one count of aggravated assault and related charges as part of a deal to limit potential prison time.

Campbell’s defense maintains it was an accident, but the prosecution said he was not concerned with the safety of the demolition because he wanted to make money off it.