Firemen shot, WTF is wrong with people
 

Firefighter killed in St. Louis-area standoff

By CHERYL WITTENAUER, Associated Press Writer

MAPLEWOOD, Mo. - A gunman shot at firefighters responding to a report of a burning pickup truck early Monday, killing one, then opened fire on other emergency workers, wounding two.
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The incident began at 5:40 a.m. with a report of a pickup truck fire in Maplewood, a suburban town just southwest of St. Louis. When firefighters arrived, someone began firing shots.

St. Mary's Hospital spokesman Eric Clark said a firefighter/paramedic from Maplewood was killed. The city identified him as 22-year-old Ryan Hummert. Officials said he was shot to death as he got off the fire truck.

Hummert, the son of former Maplewood Mayor Andy Hummert, began his career in August 2007 after graduating from paramedic training. He graduated from the St. Louis County Fire Academy in March.

"He had been with the fire department for only 10 months but knew it was his calling," Fire Chief Terry Merrell said at a brief news conference as he fought back tears. "It's impossible to say in words the emotion and pain we are feeling right now."

A Maplewood police officer also was taken to St. Mary's Hospital, where he was being treated for a gunshot wound to the right shoulder. Clark said his injury was not considered life-threatening.

The third injured emergency worker was taken to another hospital. There was no immediate word on his condition.

Besides the burning truck, a house across the street was on fire. The suspect was believed to be inside the house. Dozens of police officers from Maplewood and nearby communities surrounded the brick bungalow, pointing their rifles at the home as smoke poured from it.

Around 10:30 a.m., the fire suddenly intensified and loud popping sounds could be heard, neighbor Lamira Martin told KSDK-TV.

"Oh my God, the windows are blowing out," Martin told the TV station.

Sanyoz Rai, who works at a 7-Eleven store nearby, said he heard three or four shots at around 5:45 a.m., then saw a police officer go to the ground holding his shoulder. Rai said he then saw a firefighter on the ground behind the truck. He said the firefighter remained there for an hour before authorities could get close enough to remove him.

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AP reporter Jim Salter in St. Louis contributed to this report.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080721/ap_on_re_us/fire_standoff

This almost seems like it was a setup to create an opportunity to shoot at police/firefighters.

I wonder if the gunman died in the fire.

That's about 1/2 mile from where I used to live. It's actually not a bad neighborhood.

Sounds like a crazy guy with a gun. :(

I suppose there could be some "people of interest" even on here! They know who they are.

Very unfortunate story.

Hopefully he died a painful and unpleasant death, after killing one of the people that showed up to save him.

Mine yo' bidneth

This is just another story about WTF is wrong with some people these days. Very sad.

Several years ago, there appeared to be an ongoing problem with some totally sick POS people that decided they needed to kill fireman, just as they thought it was up to them to kill a PO. It was at that time that Texas made the offense of killing a fireman Capital Murder, just as it was for killing a police officer. I am not sure that all states have done this yet or not?

Damn scumbag scrotes!!!

AAnd to think, someone here posted a Why do these guys get such a good retirement:confused:

I'm still unsure on why a police officer's life or a fireman's life is "worth" more than any other citizen's life when it comes to sentencing...

Because they CHOOSE to put their life on the line to help others.

here is the flip side. i know a cop that had to kill a fireman. he was beating his wife, who was another cop. when the lone policeman showed up, the fireman had his wife in a headlock. she was dragged into the garage. at this time, she lipped out, and hand-motioned that her pistol was in the garage. the cop had to make a move. he went into the house and set up an ambush. two shots center mass when the fool stalked the cop. he was trying to get the policeman to answer him, to locate him. the (smarter) cop kept quiet, and used the fool's voice to locate him instead. i was stunned. apparently, the movies dont have gun death down at all. people just drop.

people are people. doesnt matter what they do for a living, some are dciks. hard to hear of folks coming to help and just getting killed.

When growing up in Paterson NJ people in the housing projects in my neighborhood would often take shots at the Fire Dept Paramedics responding to legitimate calls for help. The medics stopped responding until police escorted them in. Several people died while waiting for the medics. Man did that ever start some ****.