Residence near shooting and fire in Webster evacuated. (Max Schulte/Rochester Democrat&Chronicle via Twitter)
A gunman set a trap and shot and killed two firefighters responding to an early morning blaze in Webster, N.Y. Two other first responders were serious condition, police officials said.
"It does appear that it was a trap that was set for first responders, but the cause or reasons we don't have at this time," said Webster Police Chief Gerald Pickering said describing the scene where shots were fired at West Webster firefighters when they arrived at 5:35 a.m to battle the blaze along Lake Road in Webster, which is about 10 miles west of Rochester.
The apparent gunman was found dead in an area outside the scene, but it’s unclear if he was killed with a self-inflicted gunshot or if it was from a weapon from a police officer who was chasing him.
Firefighters Mike Chiapperini, also a lieutenant and public information officer and Tomasz Kaczowka, he's a West Webster firefighter and 911 dispatcher were killed in incident, Pickering said.
Chiapperini was described by Pickering as lifelong firefighter who started with the department's explorer program and has about 20 years of experience. Kaczowka was a younger firefighter, he said.
West Webster firefighters Joseph Hofsetter and Theodore Scardino seriously injured and are at at Strong Memorial Hospital with gunshot wounds, a hospital spokeswoman said. She said at at noon press conference, that Scardino had had injuries to chest and lungs. Hofsetter was injured in pelvis.
Pickering said that one of the injured firefighters made his way across a bridge to get to safety. The other three had to be rescued by police who arrived on the scene.
"These are volunteers who get up in the middle of the night to fight fires, they don't expect to be shot and killed," a tearful Pickering said at the press conference.
No details were released on the gunman. Pickering said he was found dead at the scene with the apparent weapons used in the shootings.
The morning scene was described as chaotic as police and firefighters dealt with an immense blaze as well as gunshots, local news station WHAM-TV reports. The station also reports the firefighters who are involved are volunteer firefighters.
“I’m not aware of anything like this happening in Webster, obviously not a firefighter being fired upon,” Webster Fire Marshal Rob Boutillier told the Democrat & Chronicle. Pickering described Webster as resort lakeside community that is quiet and usually peaceful.
There at least four houses that have been damaged by the fire along Lake Road, WHAM-TV reported. Firefighters had to leave the scene and stop battling the blazes while police secured the scene. They are back to fighting the fires, the station reports. They continue to battle the blaze.
News of the deaths spread quickly through social media.
Firefighters ambushed by gunman while responding to house fire
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Firefighters ambushed by gunman while responding to house fire
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