By DANIEL BROWN
Chicago Sun-Times Wire
The death of 84-year-old Henry S. McCann Jr. following a garage explosion last week at his Far South Side Morgan Park neighborhood home has been ruled a homicide.
About 4 a.m. Tuesday, McCann saw someone in his backyard trying to break into the garage of his home in the 11200 block of South Green Street, according to Chicago Police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
McCann went outside to investigate, and the male suspect ran away. But when the elderly man opened the door to check the garage, something inside exploded, authorities said.
He was taken to Roseland Hospital suffering burns, and was later transferred to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 4 p.m. Friday, authorities said.
An autopsy Sunday found McCann died of complications from thermal injuries, with heart disease listed as a secondary cause. The medical examiner’s office ruled the death a homicide.
The fire from the explosion spread to three other garages, police said.
No one was in custody as CPD’s Bomb and Arson Unit investigates.