Clovis house fire victim identified. Sheriff’s detectives now have a theory on what happened
The man found dead at a burning home Tuesday morning was identified by the Fresno County Coroner’s Office as 74-year-old Michael Colvin of Clovis.
The fatal fire was in the Tarpey Village neighborhood, in the 4500 block of North Argyle Avenue near Gettysburg and Sunnyside avenues.
Sheriff spokesman Tony Botti said in an update Tuesday afternoon that Colvin was found by firefighters with a possible gunshot wound, so homicide detectives with the sheriff’s office were called to the scene.
Investigators believe Colvin suffered a self-inflicted wound, Botti said.
“Based upon everything found thus far, detectives and arson investigators are focusing on Colvin as being the person potentially responsible for starting the fire and shooting himself,” Botti said.
A final determination on the cause of death will be made by the coroner’s office.
A neighbor across the street from the house getting ready for work about 5:30 a.m. saw the smoke coming from the home. He kicked in the door to try to help Colvin, whom he knew lived alone, Botti said.
The neighbor was able to find Colvin in the house and then dragged him to the front yard, Botti said.
Anyone with information is asked to call detective Juan Galindo at 559-600-8215 or Crime Stoppers at 559-498-7867.
