MOUNT VERNON – A 33-year-old Mount Vernon man has been arrested on felony arson charges in connection with a fire on South 7th Avenue in Mount Vernon on Monday. Shawn Gaillard is being held in the Westchester County Jail after being arrested on Wednesday, December 22.
On Monday, December 20, 2021 at approximately 11:30 a.m. while on patrol in the area of South 7th Avenue and Sandford Boulevard, Mount Vernon Police officers observed the house at 505 S. 7th Avenue to be fully engulfed in flames along with the neighboring house.
Police officers made entry into 507 S 7th Avenue dwelling and got one resident out safely. The Mount Vernon Fire Department arrived on scene and with the help of the New Rochelle and Pelham Fire Departments, were able to bring the fire under control and contain it to 505 and 507 S 7th Avenue. Both locations sustained major damage.
Upon further investigation by the Mount Vernon FD and a Westchester County Police Arson investigator, it was determined that the fire was intentionally set.
An investigation by Mount Vernon Police detectives led to a suspect, and Gaillard was arrested Wednesday night at approximately 7 p.m.
