PHILADELPHIA-On Monday, the Philadelphia City Council decided to launch a wide-ranging probe into the building collapse that killed six people here last week; on Wednesday the building inspector was found dead.

Veteran inspector Ronald Wagenhoffer died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest, authorities said. (Read a Huffington Post account here.) He had inspected the building undergoing demolition on May 14. On June 5, the vacant four-story structure collapsed during bulldozer activity.

Excavator operator Sean Benschop had surrendered to police on Saturday, faced with six counts of involuntary manslaughter, 13 counts of recklessly endangering another person and one count of risking a catastrophe. There have been allegations that Benschop was high on marijuana at the time he was operating the bulldozer.

The building fell atop an adjacent Salvation Army store on June 5, killing two store employees and four customers, and injuring 13 people.

Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams had said Monday that t a grand jury will look into the building collapse at 22nd and Market streets, in addition to the council setting up a special investigating committee.

Instant Insights /

UPDATE: Collapsed Building Inspector Is Dead

Related Stories

Recommended For You