Police arrest murder suspect in deadly Fort Lauderdale apartment fire – NBC 6 South Florida
An eight-month investigation into a deadly fire at a Fort Lauderdale condominium has resulted in an arrest for murder.
Keith Rush, 56, was arrested Thursday and faces a first-degree murder charge, according to Broward County jail records.
Rush is accused of setting a fire in a 9th floor condo at 4010 Galt Ocean Drive around 1 a.m. Dec. 3 that killed 93-year-old resident Howard Perkins.
Broward Sheriff’s Office Keith Rush
Rush, Perkins’ roommate, told NBC 6 at the time that he thought a lamp fell and a hot light bulb started the fire.
Police and fire investigators initially thought it was an accidental fire, but later determined it was a suspect and launched a homicide investigation.
According to a search warrant, investigators recovered a smoke alarm, clothing, lighters, butane and an unknown liquid.
A Broward grand jury charged Rush with first-degree murder on Wednesday. During his first court appearance on Friday morning, Rush started screaming.
The death of a 93-year-old Fort Lauderdale man – who died in a fire at his apartment in December – is now ruled a homicide. NBC 6’s Cristian Benavides reports
“It’s all a misunderstanding,” he shouted, as Broward Judge Phoebee Francois tried to cut him off. “I haven’t hurt a friend I’ve known for over 20 years and I’m sure I haven’t set a condo on fire.”
The grand jury ordered Rush to be held without bail and the judge agreed as Rush continued to scream.
“I went through this in January,” he shouted. “I was questioned by the FBI and the Fort Lauderdale police [and] they had nothing to blame me for because they knew I wouldn’t hurt my friend.
Rush remains in the Broward County Jail.
Keith Rush appears in Broward Bond Court.
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