Battle Creek’s First Homicide Victim of 2019 Identified

Police have identified the shooting victim found at the scene of a house fire on New Year's Day.   The department says 58 year old Howard Leon Gillette was found shot to death inside his home at 250 Graves Avenue.

The Battle Creek Fire Department was called to the scene just 46 minutes into the new year on Tuesday morning.  After finding Gillette's body, they called in police.    Officials found the possible presence of an accelerant, related to the fire.

Police have no suspects at this time, and are holding a press conference to discuss the case on Thursday morning.   Anyone with info should call police at 781-0911 or 964-3888.

Here's the house before the fire.

And here's what the house looked like in 1940.