A Philadelphia contractor who supervised the demolition of a building that resulted in the deaths of six people was charged with murder, manslaughter and reckless endangerment on Monday.
District Attorney Seth Williams told the Associated Press that Griffin Campbell will also be charged with risking a catastrophe and criminal conspiracy along with six counts of third-degree murder, 13 counts of endangerment and six counts of involuntary manslaughter already against him.
While construction workers were knocking down a storefront next to a Salvation Army thrift stores on June 5, an unsupported wall crumbled and smashed onto the neighboring building, where shoppers were trapped inside.
Six died, and 13 were injured due to the building collapse.
"The tragic and preventable collapse...robbed our city of six amazing Philadelphians that perished in the rubble and left an additional 13 wounded," Williams stated, adding that Campbell was "at the center of culpability for the collapse," since he reportedly ignored an architect's instructions before the collapse to support the wall.
Owner of the building Richard Basciano did not receive charges for crimes on Monday, according to the New York Daily News.
Previous charges were brought against excavator operator Sean Benschop, who was accused this summer of reportedly operating equipment while high on pain pills and marijuana.
