The man who was found dead after a fire in a Bridgeport home on Wednesday, May 1 has been identified as Ricardo James, 55.
It took more than a month to identify him because dental records were used and James used an alias, Garfield Morgan, according to police.
James’ body was found under some debris after a fire 1488-1490 Park Ave. in Bridgeport, police said, and there were signs of trauma to the body.
Police are investigating James’ death as a probable homicide, but the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has yet to determine the cause and manner of death, according to police.
Investigators are also trying to determine if there is any possible link between James’ death and a shooting on the night of April 30.
The fire was reported shortly after 11 p.m. on Tuesday, according to police.
Shortly after 11:30 p.m. that night, police responded to a report of a shooting victim on Linen Avenue, where they found Robson Santos, 38, suffering a gunshot wound to the area of his mouth. He was in serious but stable condition, according to police.
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Later, police located evidence on Worth Street, near the fire scene, that suggested the shooting might have occurred there. That investigation is still underway.
After extinguishing the blaze, firefighters turned over the scene to the fire marshal's office, which sought and secured an administrative warrant to enter the building to conduct an investigation into the cause.
During the course of the investigation, James’ body was found under some debris.
