Murder, Arson Charges Filed In Chicago Firefighter’s Death

CHICAGO — A 27-year-old man has been charged with murder in connection with the death of a Chicago firefighter, who died while battling a blaze in Rogers Park earlier this week.

Sheaves Slate, 27, was charged Friday with two counts of murder and two counts of arson after Michael Altman died Tuesday, a day after the fire in an apartment building.

Altman, 32, was the fourth generation in his family to work in the department. His grandfather was a fire commissioner and the father of two young children.

“This has been an incredibly difficult week for the family of Firefighter/EMT Michael Altman and our family here at the Chicago Fire Department,” Chicago Fire Department Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt said in a statement Friday. “While no outcome can undo the devastating loss the Altman family, his CFD family, friends and the city have suffered, this development is an important step toward justice.”

Monday’s fire started about 11:30 a.m. at the apartment building at 1757 W. North Shore Ave., and it was struck out about 1:15 p.m., according to the Fire Department.

Altman, who worked for Truck 47 in Edgewater, was searching the building when he fell through the floor into a basement room that was “fully on fire,” according to an online fundraiser for his family. 

Altman was fatally injured “doing what he always does — putting others first,” the fundraiser organizers wrote. 

More than $500,000 had been raised for Altman’s family as of Friday morning. On Friday, neighbors lined the streets for a funeral procession that went down Western Avenue and 103rd Street. Services are set for next week.

Reporter Jim Lynch contributed.

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