LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) — A resident of a retirement home in Southern California opened fire on firefighters responding to a report of an explosion in the building, killing a veteran fire captain and wounding a second firefighter and another person, officials said.
The shooting happened after firefighters responded to an alarm shortly before 4 a.m. at the 11-story retirement facility in Long Beach, south of Los Angeles, and found some windows blown out, activated sprinklers, the smell of gas and a fire that they extinguished, authorities said.
Firefighters were searching the building when shots were fired and the two firefighters were hit, Long Beach Fire Chief Michael DuRee said.
Fire Capt. Dave Rosa, who had worked for the department for 17 years, died at a hospital Monday morning, DuRee said. He is survived by a wife and two children, the chief said.
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Photo: Jae C. Hong, Associated Press
Long Beach police keep a street closed off near a retirement home, seen in background on Monday, June 25, 2018, in Long Beach, Calif. A resident of the retirement home in Southern California opened fire on firefighters responding to a report of an explosion in the building, killing a veteran fire captain and wounding a second firefighter and another person, officials said. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
lessLong Beach police keep a street closed off near a retirement home, seen in background on Monday, June 25, 2018, in Long Beach, Calif. A resident of the retirement home in Southern California opened fire on
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Street scene from Covenant Manor at 4th Street and Atlantic Avenue in Long Beach, Calif., where a shooting left one firefighter dead and a second wounded Monday morning, June 25, 2018. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
lessStreet scene from Covenant Manor at 4th Street and Atlantic Avenue in Long Beach, Calif., where a shooting left one firefighter dead and a second wounded Monday morning, June 25, 2018. (Al Seib/Los Angeles
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Residents at the Covenant Manor at 4th Street and Atlantic Avenue in Long Beach, Calif. evacuate after a shooting left one firefighter dead and a second wounded on Monday morning, June 25, 2018. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
lessResidents at the Covenant Manor at 4th Street and Atlantic Avenue in Long Beach, Calif. evacuate after a shooting left one firefighter dead and a second wounded on Monday morning, June 25, 2018. (Al Seib/Los
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This photo provided by the Long Beach Fire Department shows Captain David Rosa who was fatally shot while responding to an emergency at a senior home on Monday, June 25, 2018 in Long Beach, Calif. Rosa, a long-time veteran of the department and leaves behind a wife and two children. Another firefighter and another person were also wounded. (Long Beach Fire Department via AP)
lessThis photo provided by the Long Beach Fire Department shows Captain David Rosa who was fatally shot while responding to an emergency at a senior home on Monday, June 25, 2018 in Long Beach, Calif. Rosa, a
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Long Beach firefighters walk along a street near a retirement home where at least one firefighter was killed in Long Beach, Calif., on Monday, June 25, 2018. A resident of the retirement home in Southern California opened fire on firefighters responding to a report of an explosion in the building, officials said.
lessLong Beach firefighters walk along a street near a retirement home where at least one firefighter was killed in Long Beach, Calif., on Monday, June 25, 2018. A resident of the retirement home in Southern
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Long Beach police keep a street closed off near a retirement home, seen in background on Monday, June 25, 2018, in Long Beach, Calif. A resident of a retirement home in Southern California opened fire on firefighters responding to a report of an explosion in the building, killing at least one and wounding others, officials said.
lessLong Beach police keep a street closed off near a retirement home, seen in background on Monday, June 25, 2018, in Long Beach, Calif. A resident of a retirement home in Southern California opened fire on
... more
Long Beach firefighters gather at Saint Mary Medical Center as they transport the body of Fire Capt. Dave Rosa who was killed after he was shot responding to an emergency at a senior home in Long Beach, Calif., on Monday, June 25, 2018. A resident of a retirement home in Southern California opened fire on firefighters responding to a report of an explosion in the building, killing Rosa, and wounding others.
lessLong Beach firefighters gather at Saint Mary Medical Center as they transport the body of Fire Capt. Dave Rosa who was killed after he was shot responding to an emergency at a senior home in Long Beach, Calif.,
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Long Beach firefighter honor guard carry a wreath outside Saint Mary Medical Center prior to a procession for Fire Capt. Dave Rosa who was killed after he was shot responding to an emergency at a senior home in Long Beach, Calif., on Monday, June 25, 2018. A resident of a retirement home in Southern California opened fire on firefighters responding to a report of an explosion in the building, killing Rosa, and wounding others.
lessLong Beach firefighter honor guard carry a wreath outside Saint Mary Medical Center prior to a procession for Fire Capt. Dave Rosa who was killed after he was shot responding to an emergency at a senior home in
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A Long Beach firefighter stands outside Saint Mary Medical Center prior to a procession for Fire Capt. Dave Rosa who was killed after he was shot responding to an emergency at a senior home in Long Beach, Calif., on Monday, June 25, 2018. A resident of a retirement home in Southern California opened fire on firefighters responding to a report of an explosion in the building, killing Rosa, and wounding others.
lessA Long Beach firefighter stands outside Saint Mary Medical Center prior to a procession for Fire Capt. Dave Rosa who was killed after he was shot responding to an emergency at a senior home in Long Beach,
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A broken window at a retirement home remains at the scene of a fatal shooting in Long Beach, Calif., on Monday, June 25, 2018. A resident of a retirement home in Southern California opened fire on firefighters responding to a report of an explosion in the building, killing at least one and wounding others, officials said.
lessA broken window at a retirement home remains at the scene of a fatal shooting in Long Beach, Calif., on Monday, June 25, 2018. A resident of a retirement home in Southern California opened fire on firefighters
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Long Beach firefighters salute for Fire Capt. Dave Rosa as they wait for his body to be transported from Saint Mary Medical Center in Long Beach, Calif., on Monday, June 25, 2018. Rosa, who had worked for the department for 17 years, died at the hospital on Monday after he was shot responding to an emergency at a senior home.
lessLong Beach firefighters salute for Fire Capt. Dave Rosa as they wait for his body to be transported from Saint Mary Medical Center in Long Beach, Calif., on Monday, June 25, 2018. Rosa, who had worked for the
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California firefighter shot, killed at retirement home
The other firefighter who was shot was not immediately identified and was hospitalized in stable condition. A third person was also struck by gunfire and was in critical condition and undergoing surgery, said Police Chief Robert Luna. No further details were provided about that person.
Dozens of firefighters stood at attention and saluted as the flag-draped coffin carrying Rosa's body was brought out of a hospital Monday afternoon and loaded into a coroner's van. Community members waved American flags along the street outside the hospital as the procession of police and fire vehicles escorted the van to the coroner's office.
Luna said a "person of interest" — who police believe is a resident at the facility — was detained at the scene and was being questioned by investigators. A weapon was recovered at the scene, he said.
"There is a big puzzle to put together," Luna said.
Investigators were looking into whether the shooter intentionally lured first responders to the scene to ambush them, Luna said.
"That's the environment we work in today, as law enforcement and firefighters. You go to these scenes and you never know what's on the other side of those doors. And these brave firefighters went through those doors and unfortunately they were met with gunfire," Luna said.
Pamela Barr, who lives in the building, said she was awakened by fire alarms and didn't panic because false alarms are not uncommon. She tried to go back to sleep but then learned what was happening by watching TV news. Firefighters later evacuated the building and put residents on buses.
"This is a lot to deal with," said Barr, 73, as she sat with her son in a car, waiting to be allowed back in the tower, where she lives on the ninth floor on the opposite end of the building from where the fire occurred.
Barr said she hadn't heard of any troubles involving residents of the facility, where she has lived for seven years. She described it as clean, well run and secure.
Gloria Ford, 58, who lives a few blocks away, was awakened by screaming sirens earlier and came to check out the scene.
"I'm very sorry about it. I'm sick about it," she said about the death of the firefighter. "It's just mad."
Police also called for bomb squad investigators after they discovered "a couple of devices they deemed to be suspicious."
The residential tower near downtown Long Beach has 100 apartments for low-income people age 62 and older as well as disabled adults over age 18, according to its website.
Long Beach is a major port city with a population of more than 400,000.
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Balsamo reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press writer John Antczak in Los Angeles contributed to this report.
https://www.timesunion.com/news/crime/article/California-retirement-home-shooting-wounds-3-13023542.php
