The Stockton, California police are investigating the shooting that ended the life of a Latino firefighter who, along with his team, was working to put out a fire early Monday morning.
Stockton Fire Captain Vidal “Max” Fortuna, aged 47, was shot while fighting the fire.
The incident occurred around at 4.45 in the morning when a group of firefighters responded to an emergency call for a fire in a garbage dump.
The fire was spreading to a nearby building from where shots were fired as firefighters worked to stop the flames , according to reports from local television station ABC30.
Fortuna was hit by one of the bullets and taken to a hospital, where he was declared dead.
Stockton Fire Chief Rick Edwards told a news conference that this was the “worst nightmare” a man can experience. from the Fire Department.
Fortuna had been working 21 years with the City Fire Department, located in Northern California. He is survived by his wife and two children.
Officers with the Stockton Police Department arrested a 67 year old man as a suspect in the shooting.
A firearm was also recovered in the area. The identity of the suspect was not disclosed.
Homicide detectives are investigating the circumstances of the shooter.
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