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20 March 2026
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Chicago firefighter dies after suffering critical injuries while battling a fire on Far North Side, US
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Man arrested for arson
The man accused of starting a fire that led to Firefighter Altman’s death told residents at the Rogers Park apartment building they were “going to pay” after they wouldn’t let him speak to his former roommate, Cook County prosecutors alleged Monday.
Early the next morning, on March 16, Sheaves Slate allegedly sneaked into the building’s basement — where he had repeatedly squatted — and set a mattress on fire. Depressed and suicidal, he watched as it went up in flames, placed a door in front of the room to obscure the smoke and fled without calling 911, said Assistant State’s Attorney Mike Pekara.
Slate, 27, of Avondale, was ordered detained Monday, pending his trial. Slate, who placed his face in his hands during the hearing, faces first-degree murder, aggravated arson and residential arson charges.
A couple dozen firefighters and paramedics filled the courtroom’s seats to show their support for Altman, a “dedicated” firefighter who left behind a pregnant wife and toddler.
“That fire could have caught other buildings in a densely populated neighbourhood, … could have endangered the lives of any of those people and any and all first responders, firefighters and police officers who regularly and selflessly run into these buildings to save people,” said Cook County Judge Luciano Panici Jr at the Leighton Criminal Court Building.
“The danger wasn’t abstract, it manifested itself. That victim lost his life as a result of it,” Panici said when ordering Slate detained, adding that he’s a clear danger to the community.
Slate repeatedly came to the three-story building in the 1700 block of North Shore Avenue in the months leading up to the fire, even though he was no longer a tenant, Pekara said. Residents reported him for trespassing in the basement to the property manager just two weeks before the fire.
Slate was captured on Ring video walking toward his former apartment on the third floor, which he hadn’t lived in for about nine months, on March 15 around 10:30 p.m. He demanded to speak to his former roommate, and when the current tenants denied his request, he got increasingly angry, Pekara said.
One of the tenants called the police because of how loud Slate was screaming, but then called back and canceled the request, believing Slate had left the building.
But Ring camera footage showed Slate walking up and down the stairs, and in the early morning hours of March 16, multiple witnesses saw him sleeping in front of his former apartment, Pekara said.
A current tenant made him leave around 4 a.m., but he returned quickly. This time, he entered through a broken basement window and sat inside a boiler room for hours, Pekara said. He used a hand-held lighter to set the upper corner of a mattress, which was leaned up against a wall, on fire, Pekara said.
Unable to stop the fire, Slate placed a door in front of the room to hide the flames and smoke. He then left without alerting anyone of the blaze, Pekara said.
Slate was captured on surveillance footage walking into an alley, boarding a bus on Clark Street and boarding the CTA Red Line at the Howard station. He travelled to Harold Washington Library Centre downtown, where he dyed his hair from orange to brown and changed his clothes, Pekara said.
Meanwhile, Altman arrived at the apartment building around 11:30 a.m. to battle the blaze. Firefighters in the basement were forced to move the door that Slate had used to conceal the fire, which caused the basement ceiling to collapse, Pekara said.
Altman, who was on the first floor, fell through the floor and was engulfed in flames. He was pronounced dead last Tuesday after suffering serious injuries.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives determined the fire was started by human means in the boiler room, Pekara said.
Slate was arrested Wednesday afternoon at a hospital in the Uptown neighbourhood. Pekara said Slate had checked himself into the hospital for suicidal ideations.
Chicago Fire Department Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt statement: 20 March 2026
This has been an incredibly difficult week for the family of Firefighter/EMT Michael Altman and our family here at the Chicago Fire Department. We are thankful for all the support we have received as we continue to support the Altman family and prepare to lay our hero to rest.
We are immensely grateful for the tireless and collaborative efforts of the Chicago Police Department, Area 3 Detectives, Arson Detectives, the Chicago Fire Department's Office of Fire Investigation, the ATF Chicago office, the Office of the State Fire Marshal and the Chicago Buildings Department for their outstanding work on this case and in bringing accountability to this tragic incident. Through their diligence an individual has been charged with first-degree murder.
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.
Firefighter Altman was a hero each time he put on the CFD uniform and each time he ran toward a fire to save lives. He was also a hero to his family, including his wife Nora, who is expecting their second child soon, and their young son. It is heartbreaking to know these children will now grow up without their father but we promise to always be there for them and remind them that they are surrounded by their family here at the fire department. - Chicago Fire Department Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt.
Sources: NBC Chicago, CBS News, WGN-TV, Chicago Tribune
Man arrested for arson
The man accused of starting a fire that led to Firefighter Altman’s death told residents at the Rogers Park apartment building they were “going to pay” after they wouldn’t let him speak to his former roommate, Cook County prosecutors alleged Monday.
Early the next morning, on March 16, Sheaves Slate allegedly sneaked into the building’s basement — where he had repeatedly squatted — and set a mattress on fire. Depressed and suicidal, he watched as it went up in flames, placed a door in front of the room to obscure the smoke and fled without calling 911, said Assistant State’s Attorney Mike Pekara.
Slate, 27, of Avondale, was ordered detained Monday, pending his trial. Slate, who placed his face in his hands during the hearing, faces first-degree murder, aggravated arson and residential arson charges.
A couple dozen firefighters and paramedics filled the courtroom’s seats to show their support for Altman, a “dedicated” firefighter who left behind a pregnant wife and toddler.
“That fire could have caught other buildings in a densely populated neighbourhood, … could have endangered the lives of any of those people and any and all first responders, firefighters and police officers who regularly and selflessly run into these buildings to save people,” said Cook County Judge Luciano Panici Jr at the Leighton Criminal Court Building.
“The danger wasn’t abstract, it manifested itself. That victim lost his life as a result of it,” Panici said when ordering Slate detained, adding that he’s a clear danger to the community.
Slate repeatedly came to the three-story building in the 1700 block of North Shore Avenue in the months leading up to the fire, even though he was no longer a tenant, Pekara said. Residents reported him for trespassing in the basement to the property manager just two weeks before the fire.
Slate was captured on Ring video walking toward his former apartment on the third floor, which he hadn’t lived in for about nine months, on March 15 around 10:30 p.m. He demanded to speak to his former roommate, and when the current tenants denied his request, he got increasingly angry, Pekara said.
One of the tenants called the police because of how loud Slate was screaming, but then called back and canceled the request, believing Slate had left the building.
But Ring camera footage showed Slate walking up and down the stairs, and in the early morning hours of March 16, multiple witnesses saw him sleeping in front of his former apartment, Pekara said.
A current tenant made him leave around 4 a.m., but he returned quickly. This time, he entered through a broken basement window and sat inside a boiler room for hours, Pekara said. He used a hand-held lighter to set the upper corner of a mattress, which was leaned up against a wall, on fire, Pekara said.
Unable to stop the fire, Slate placed a door in front of the room to hide the flames and smoke. He then left without alerting anyone of the blaze, Pekara said.
Slate was captured on surveillance footage walking into an alley, boarding a bus on Clark Street and boarding the CTA Red Line at the Howard station. He travelled to Harold Washington Library Centre downtown, where he dyed his hair from orange to brown and changed his clothes, Pekara said.
Meanwhile, Altman arrived at the apartment building around 11:30 a.m. to battle the blaze. Firefighters in the basement were forced to move the door that Slate had used to conceal the fire, which caused the basement ceiling to collapse, Pekara said.
Altman, who was on the first floor, fell through the floor and was engulfed in flames. He was pronounced dead last Tuesday after suffering serious injuries.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives determined the fire was started by human means in the boiler room, Pekara said.
Slate was arrested Wednesday afternoon at a hospital in the Uptown neighbourhood. Pekara said Slate had checked himself into the hospital for suicidal ideations.
Chicago Fire Department Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt statement: 20 March 2026
This has been an incredibly difficult week for the family of Firefighter/EMT Michael Altman and our family here at the Chicago Fire Department. We are thankful for all the support we have received as we continue to support the Altman family and prepare to lay our hero to rest.
We are immensely grateful for the tireless and collaborative efforts of the Chicago Police Department, Area 3 Detectives, Arson Detectives, the Chicago Fire Department's Office of Fire Investigation, the ATF Chicago office, the Office of the State Fire Marshal and the Chicago Buildings Department for their outstanding work on this case and in bringing accountability to this tragic incident. Through their diligence an individual has been charged with first-degree murder.
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.
Firefighter Altman was a hero each time he put on the CFD uniform and each time he ran toward a fire to save lives. He was also a hero to his family, including his wife Nora, who is expecting their second child soon, and their young son. It is heartbreaking to know these children will now grow up without their father but we promise to always be there for them and remind them that they are surrounded by their family here at the fire department. - Chicago Fire Department Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt.
Sources: NBC Chicago, CBS News, WGN-TV, Chicago Tribune
