PLANT CITY, Fla. — A man is facing multiple charges, including murder and arson, after deputies said he "intentionally" set a home in Plant City on fire, resulting in the death of four people.
Shawn Gossett, 25, reportedly lived at the mobile home located on S County Line Road between M L Sanders Way and Forestview Drive, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said.
Just after midnight Wednesday, deputies said they got a call about a possible fire at the location.
Hillsborough County Fire Rescue spokesperson Danny Alvarez said one person inside the home called 911 reporting smoke in the house, saying they and others were trapped inside with no way out.
In an update Wednesday afternoon, Chief Deputy Joseph Maurer said Gossett admitted he started the blaze by using a BIC lighter to set paper towels on fire. Gossett was able to get out of the home and was not hurt by the fire, Maurer said.
When fire crews arrived minutes later, they found the home engulfed in flames.
Working quickly, firefighters were able to make their way inside the home. Within minutes, crews managed to get all four people out of the home through a bedroom window, Alvarez said.
Unfortunately, all four people died at the scene.
"Obviously, our senses are heightened," he said. "We know there's people in serious need and serious trouble. Firefighting takes a back seat and we made entry trying to find them, locate them. And we did and were able to get them out of a bedroom window. Unfortunately, they did not make it."
Alvarez confirmed to 10 Tampa Bay the 911 caller said five dogs were also in the home. The sheriff's office later clarified three dogs were found dead as a result of the fire.
Gossett is charged with three counts of cruelty to animals as a result, according to the sheriff's office.
Deputies arrived a short time later as crews battled the fire to begin their investigation. Photos released by fire rescue show the mobile home completely destroyed by fire.
Gossett was arrested sometime before noon Wednesday, according to the sheriff's office. In addition to the animal cruelty charges, Gossett is charged with four counts of murder in the first degree while engaged in arson and also arson of a dwelling.
"This is an utterly senseless and horrific crime where four innocent lives were tragically taken due to the evil actions of this man," Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement. "I want to commend our detectives and our partners at Hillsborough County Fire Rescue for their swift actions which resulted in the arrest of this individual and their relentless efforts to ensure justice is served."
Maurer said detectives are working to determine what motive Gossett may have had to set the fire.
Loved ones identified three of the four people killed as Chase Bowman, his wife Jessica Bowman and her mother Judy Foster. They add Jessica Bowman's brother, Joseph Clites, was also killed.
Deputies confirmed the victims' identities in an arrest affidavit on Thursday.
Friends who consider them like family held a small vigil in front of the home.
Shaun Martinez said his younger brother Alex Bermudez grew a strong bond with Chase Bowman after becoming friends in middle school.
Martinez had just seen the family hours before they were killed to help with their car.
"He was a good person to hang around with," Martinez said of Chase Bowman.
A close friend of the family Rondie Bengtson said she's shocked hearing from deputies that Gossett allegedly set the home on fire on purpose.
"I just can't imagine him doing something like this," she said. "He's not the type that would do it. He really isn't."
Deputies add one dog survived and is now under the care of the county pet shelter. A spokesperson from the county added it has a seven-day hold on it to see if next of kin or someone with a legal right to the dog comes forward before it can be up for adoption.