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Brooklyn man charged after NYC building fire
Sep 01, 2026
đź“Ť Phliadelphia,PA, USA
A 63-year-old Brooklyn man has been arrested and charged with arson after allegedly setting himself on fire inside the lobby of a Lower Manhattan office building that includes Google offices.
Police identified the man as John Butch, who allegedly ignited himself at around 2:58 p.m. on Friday, August 28, at 315 Hudson Street near Vandam Street.
Multiple emergency calls prompted the New York Police Department and other first responders to rush to the building following reports of a person on fire.
Butch suffered burns in the incident and was transported to NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center for treatment, where he was reported to be in stable condition.
No other injuries were reported following the incident.
The NYPD charged Butch with arson, criminal mischief and reckless endangerment.
Investigators have not publicly established a motive and have not said whether Google was the intended target.
The fire occurred in the building’s public lobby rather than within Google’s office space.
Google is one of several tenants at the property and occupies a significant portion of the building.
A company spokesperson said Google was aware of the incident and was cooperating with authorities investigating what happened.
The spokesperson said the individual appeared to be attempting to gain access to another tenant’s area, while expressing appreciation for the emergency responders who handled the situation.
The building has an unusual mix of occupants, including Google offices and the NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau.
Police confirmed that Butch has no employment connection to the NYPD.
Google reportedly occupies approximately 410,556 square feet of space within the building, making it one of the property’s largest tenants.
Initial reports indicated that security personnel managed to extinguish the flames before emergency crews arrived.
Police also reportedly discovered a collapsible baton inside Butch’s bag during the investigation.
Authorities said they did not find a note or political materials that could immediately explain the incident.
Investigators are now examining why Butch entered the building and what he intended to do before setting himself on fire.
Officials are also trying to determine whether he had a connection to another tenant he appeared to be attempting to reach.
The absence of a known motive has left several key questions surrounding the incident unanswered.
Authorities have not indicated that the incident was connected to terrorism or a broader political action.
The investigation remains active as detectives work to establish the circumstances leading up to the fire.
For now, Butch remains under medical care while facing multiple criminal charges related to the incident.
The case has also drawn attention because of the building’s connection to Google and the presence of an NYPD office at the same location.
Police identified the man as John Butch, who allegedly ignited himself at around 2:58 p.m. on Friday, August 28, at 315 Hudson Street near Vandam Street.
Multiple emergency calls prompted the New York Police Department and other first responders to rush to the building following reports of a person on fire.
Butch suffered burns in the incident and was transported to NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center for treatment, where he was reported to be in stable condition.
No other injuries were reported following the incident.
The NYPD charged Butch with arson, criminal mischief and reckless endangerment.
Investigators have not publicly established a motive and have not said whether Google was the intended target.
The fire occurred in the building’s public lobby rather than within Google’s office space.
Google is one of several tenants at the property and occupies a significant portion of the building.
A company spokesperson said Google was aware of the incident and was cooperating with authorities investigating what happened.
The spokesperson said the individual appeared to be attempting to gain access to another tenant’s area, while expressing appreciation for the emergency responders who handled the situation.
The building has an unusual mix of occupants, including Google offices and the NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau.
Police confirmed that Butch has no employment connection to the NYPD.
Google reportedly occupies approximately 410,556 square feet of space within the building, making it one of the property’s largest tenants.
Initial reports indicated that security personnel managed to extinguish the flames before emergency crews arrived.
Police also reportedly discovered a collapsible baton inside Butch’s bag during the investigation.
Authorities said they did not find a note or political materials that could immediately explain the incident.
Investigators are now examining why Butch entered the building and what he intended to do before setting himself on fire.
Officials are also trying to determine whether he had a connection to another tenant he appeared to be attempting to reach.
The absence of a known motive has left several key questions surrounding the incident unanswered.
Authorities have not indicated that the incident was connected to terrorism or a broader political action.
The investigation remains active as detectives work to establish the circumstances leading up to the fire.
For now, Butch remains under medical care while facing multiple criminal charges related to the incident.
The case has also drawn attention because of the building’s connection to Google and the presence of an NYPD office at the same location.
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