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A resident of an elderly facility in Long Beach, California, shot dead a former fire captain who was responding to reports of an explosion in the skyscraper on Monday morning, reported police officials.
The authorities arrested Thomas Kim, a 77-year-old resident of the retirement home, on suspicion of murder, attempted murder and arson. Police are investigating whether Kim intentionally set the building on fire in an attempt to ambush firefighters, said Long Beach Police Chief Robert Luna. press conference. Kim is held on bail of $ 2 million. He did not file a plea and no lawyer for him could be located.
Captain David Rosa, a 17-year veteran of the Long Beach Fire Department, was shot dead Monday around 4 am local time while he was investigating an explosion and fire that blew on the windows of an apartment. system, Long Beach Fire Chief Mike Duree said. He was 45 years old.
Another firefighter, Ernesto Torres, 35, as well as an elderly resident of the complex, were also hit by gunshots. Torres, a 12-year-old veteran, was treated and released from a hospital, while the injured resident remained hospitalized in a stable but critical state on Monday, fire officials said.
"It's a day of emotion for all of us," said Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia at the press conference. "Long Beach has really lost a hero today."
Residents of the retirement home, a building of 100 low income seniors' apartments or adults with disabilities, began reporting a strong smell of gasoline and the sound of an explosion before 4 am.
"I heard a noise, and then I heard shards of glass on the floor," said Ronald Keller, a ninth-floor dweller, to Long Beach Press's telegram. "I did not know what happened."
As the responding firefighters climbed upstairs, shots were fired, said Duree.
"The patrol officers immediately started looking for the shooter as we normally do in these situations," Luna said. "We are trying to isolate him and avoid that someone who is not. other is shot. "
As resident Rick Convay evacuated the building, he saw a man sitting in the stairway between the third and second floors with a rifle in his hand, Convay told the ACBLS. Convay said he and a group of residents had taken a different road from the building before talking to the police about this man.
The police activated a SWAT team and managed to safely take the alleged gunman into custody, Luna said. Authorities recovered a revolver from the scene and found two suspicious devices in Kim's second-floor apartment, where the explosion took place, Luna explained.
Firefighters stand near a photo of Captain David Rosa at a press conference on Monday, June 25, 2018, in Long Beach, CA (AP Photo / Jae C. Hong)
"I'm a little frustrated," Luna said. "There is still a big puzzle that we are trying to put together, there is a lot of information we do not know yet."
Asked if Kim is suspected of having started the fires with the intention of shooting at the firefighters, Luna said "it's a possibility".
"It's an option we're looking at," he added. "This will be the subject of an investigation, because if it is the case, we want to know why."
The police are still investigating Kim's story. Until now, they have only found evidence of an arrest several years ago for auto theft, Luna said.
His brother, George Kim, told Long Beach Press-Telegram that he had not spoken to Thomas Kim for nearly 30 years. Thomas Kim and his ex-wife have a daughter, said his brother.
"His wife left him because he played," George Kim told the Press-Telegram. Thomas Kim immigrated to the United States in the 1960s, and graduated from college before working as a civil engineer in the Los Angeles area. He also worked in construction in Korea and Saudi Arabia before returning to the United States, the Press-Telegram reported.
Approximately 80 elderly residents of the Long Beach retirement home were evacuated as a result of the shooting. They fled to a local community center where the Red Cross provided on-site medical care. They had to go home before the end of the day, the Press-Telegram reported.
On Monday afternoon, Rosa's body was escorted with honors from the hospital to the coroner's office. Firefighters stood up to greet a procession of trucks, motorcycles and other law enforcement vehicles moving down the streets. Later that night, a vigil was held at Fire Station No. 10, where Rosa served as captain for more than six years.
"Our deepest condolences go out to Captain Rosa's family, to his friends and to all the Long Beach Fire Department as they mourn his tragic death," said California Governor Jerry Brown. (D) in a statement. declaration. He ordered that flags of the capital be stolen half of the staff.
Firefighters greet during a procession for fire captain Dave Rosa, who was killed after being shot by a bullet in a senior citizens residence in Long Beach, California on Monday, June 25, 2018 (AP Photo / Jae C. Hong)
Rosa is survived by her wife, Lynley, and her sons Alec, 25, and Samuel, 16, according to the governor's release.
Durable describes Rosa as a "beloved" member of the department, as well as a "devoted family man, a good husband, a good father" and "just a wonderful and wonderful person".
"Firefighters from the region, from the state and from across the country are putting themselves at risk for serving their community," said Mr. Duree. "Capt. Rosa responded to this call this morning in the service of his community, and he made the ultimate sacrifice in doing so."
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