REDWOOD CITY — A fire that killed two men late last year at a Redwood City liquor store was intentionally set by one of them, according to police, who say he was found chained up inside the establishment.
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In a case update Thursday, the Redwood City Police Department said 56-year-old Benigo Nuguid Pare “intentionally introduced and ignited gasoline in the loft area” of Avenue Liquors, located at 2147 Roosevelt Ave., shortly before sunrise on Nov. 3, 2025.
Pare was found with a chain around both wrists secured by a lock, according to police.
“Subsequent examination determined the chain tightly secured one wrist while remaining loose around the other,” police said.
According to police, investigators concluded Pare intentionally set the fire “based on physical evidence, witness statements, surveillance video and the totality of the investigation.”
The fire also claimed the life of Anil Kumar Sharma, 25, who was found with Pare in the loft area.
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All the exits were secured from inside the business, and “investigators found no evidence indicating that any additional person participated in the incident,” police said.
Pare worked at Avenue Liquors, according to a GoFundMe page set up to raise money for his wife and four children. The organizer described the man, also known as Benny, as “one of the most hardworking, humble and generous people I’ve ever met.”
The update left many questions unanswered, including what role, if any, Sharma played in the incident and whether Pare intended to kill him. A police department spokesperson did not immediately respond to a message seeking additional details about the case.
Some evidence remains under examination, but police do not expect the pending results to “materially alter” any of their conclusions.
Anyone with information related to the case can contact the police department at 650-780-7100.
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Check back for updates.
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