HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — The man who is facing arson and murder charges in a fatal Plant City fire that left four people and three dogs dead is set to make his first court appearance on Thursday.
Shawn Gosset will make his first appearances in a Hillsborough County courtroom on Thursday.
🚨𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐓🚨#teamHCSO has arrested Shawn Gossett, 25, for intentionally setting a house fire that took the lives of four people and three dogs.
— HCSO (@HCSOSheriff) July 31, 2024
"This is an utterly senseless and horrific crime where four innocent lives were tragically taken due to the evil actions of this… pic.twitter.com/sGxsGNHPgg
Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office deputies say he confessed to setting his own home on fire during the early morning hours of Wednesday, July 31, which they say killed four people he lived with and three dogs.
Detectives say Gossett used a Bic lighter and paper towels to start the fire and later told them he wanted to burn the house down.
Officials say they are still working to find out a motive.
People who knew the victims and Gossett say they are shocked to hear what happened.
"No, I can't. He doesn't seem like the type of kid who would do something like that. He's a quiet kid. I don't know what was going through his head. Or if there was something going through his head. I don't know," said Rondie Benggson of Plant City.
Gossett faces four counts of first-degree murder, arson and animal cruelty charges.
