4 volunteer firefighters shot, 2 killed, in apparent 'trap'

[EmtHipple]

R.I.P. my fallen brothers.

(CNN) -- Four firefighters were shot, two fatally, while responding to a fire in upstate New York on Monday, and investigators believe the suspect had deliberately set a trap to lure them to the scene.

The alleged assailant, who also died, apparently took aim at the firefighters as they arrived at an early morning house and vehicle fire in the Rochester-area town of Webster, Police Chief Gerald Pickering said.

Pickering said two of the firefighters who were shot died at the scene. The two injured firefighters were hospitalized in intensive care, officials said. An off-duty police officer passing by the area also sustained shrapnel wounds, Pickering said.

Authorities did not immediately identify the suspect, who Pickering said was found dead at the scene.

"It does appear that it was a trap that was set," said Pickering, who choked back tears as he talked about the firefighters who were killed. One was also a police lieutenant with about 20 years on the force.

The shooting occurred amid a renewed debate over gun control following the elementary school massacre in Newtown, Connecticut, on Dec. 14 that killed 26 people, most of them children.

"As you can see, emotions are extremely high," Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks told reporters. "There's a heightened awareness to this kind of violence in light of what happened in Connecticut, and I just want everyone to remember: It's Christmas Eve. We have first responders, and we have families who are in pain and crisis today and we need to as a community keep them in our thoughts and prayers."

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo described the Webster shooting as horrific and senseless.

"Volunteer firefighters and police officers were injured and two were taken from us as they once again answered the call of duty," he said in a statement.

Firefighters first arrived at the Webster fire before 6 a.m., said Rob Boutillier, the town's fire marshal.

The gunfire stopped firefighters from working to extinguish the flames and forced police SWAT teams to evacuate homes in the area. By noon, four houses were engulfed by flames.

"It took a while to make it safe ... to put out the fires," Pickering said.

One firefighter escaped from the scene in his own vehicle about an hour after he was shot and was taken to the hospital by an ambulance from another location, Boutillier said.

Another wounded firefighter was conscious and speaking when he was removed from the scene, Boutillier said.

The wounded firefighters were in intensive care Monday at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, New York, officials said.

It was unclear what type of weapon was used in the Webster shooting.

[Medic Kane]

New York gunman died of self-inflicted gunshot wound, and had served time for killing his grandmother with a hammer, police said.

 

He could not legally have a gun. One of those shot was an off duty police officer. 7 homes in all were lost as it took hours for the police to secure the area.

 

 

http://www.nbcnewyor...-184678511.html

 

I saw one person ask under the comments section in the news how someone who killed his grandmother with a hammer get out of jail....I honestly wonder why he wasn't executed, but we don't hold people responsible for their actions. This lack of accountability for actions is the major cause of crime.

Edited December 25, 2012 by Medic Kane

[TulsaGeoff]

Sad news. Firefights are some of the bravest people around. These heros should not have to worry about physcos shooting at them.

[Lulu]

This whole trap thing is messed up.

[LuCkY*13]

For sure...pfff