June 06--An 84-year-old Morgan Park man's death late last week following an apparent arson explosion in his garage has been ruled a homicide, authorities said.
Henry S. McCann Jr., of the 11200 block of South Green Street, was pronounced dead at 4 p.m. Friday at Stroger Hospital, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office. McCann died of complications from thermal injuries suffered in a garage fire, with heart disease listed as a contributing factor, the office said, adding that his death was ruled a homicide following an autopsy on Sunday.
About 3:55 a.m. Tuesday, the victim saw someone in his backyard whom he thought might have been breaking into his garage, and when he went outside, the person fled, said Officer Kevin Quaid, a police spokesman.
The 84-year-old opened his garage door to see if it had been burglarized, when an explosion occurred, Quaid said. The man was taken initially to Roseland Hospital, then transferred to Stroger in critical condition.
Three garages were damaged in the fire, which was determined to be caused by arson.
The police Bomb and Arson Unit and Area South detectives were investigating, but no one was in custody.
