Binghamton Arson: Man Charged with Attempted Murder

A Binghamton man has been accused of setting fire to an occupied apartment house on the city's North Side.

Authorities said the blaze at 16 Emmett Street was reported shortly after 6 a.m. Monday. The fire was spotted by a neighbor.

When firefighters arrived, heavy smoke and flames were seen coming from the first floor in the rear of the two-story wood frame structure. The fire was extending to the second floor of the house.

Binghamton police investigated a fire in a two-family house on Emma Street near Robinson Street on April 20, 2026. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)

Residents reported there were several animals trapped inside the burning building.

Firefighters rescued a dog from a second-floor window and multiple cats from inside the structure. No injuries were to residents or firefighters were reported.

Authorities were unable to provide an exact count of how many people were homeless as the result of the fire. They estimated that between eight and ten residents were displaced. Some were assisted at the scene by the Red Cross.

Investigators determined the fire was started using an accelerant on the outside of the building.

A view of the southwest corner of a fire-damaged house at 19 Emmett Street on April 20, 2026. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)

Detectives identified 32-year-old Evan M. Cusack as a suspect in the arson. He was found by city police officers on the South Side around 9 a.m.

Cusack has been charged with second-degree murder and second-degree arson. He was arraigned in Binghamton City Court and sent to Broome County Jail.

According to public records, the property was acquired by a bank in Minnesota last month. Prior to that, it was owned by an LLC with ties to developer Isaac Anzaroot of Brooklyn.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com or call (607) 545-2250. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.

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