A resident of the 77-year-old rest home is charged with targeting and killing a firefighter

Authorities in Long Beach, California, believe that a 77-year-old resident intentionally lit a fire on Monday morning to lure first responders, then shot and killed a former firefighter and injured another firefighter after extinguishing the fire. # 39; fire.

"It's the first time we see anything like this," said Long Beach Fire Chief Mike Duree.

At approximately 4:00 am, fire captain Dave Rosa and firefighter Ernesto Torres reacted to reports of a fire, followed by an explosion and a smell of gasoline. at the Covenant Manor Care Center, said Duree. Approaching the skyscraper, firefighters noticed that the windows of one unit had been blown and the sprinklers were on.

Residents also reported feeling a smell of gas on the third floor, prompting the authorities to order the elderly occupants of the institution to be on the spot. After extinguishing the fire, Rosa and Torres stayed inside the building to investigate the smell and gas explosion, said the chef.

Ten minutes later, shots broke out and the police received reports of an active shooter.

Rosa, a 45-year veteran of the Long Beach Fire Department, was killed in the attack. Torres and another man, a civilian resident of Covenant Manor, were wounded and taken to a local hospital.

The authorities subsequently arrested Thomas Kim, 77, who lived in the establishment, in connection with the fire and shootings. Kim was held on suspicion of murder, as well as two counts of attempted murder and arson, and is held on bail of $ 2 million.

After searching the 11-story building, officials discovered two suspicious devices, which they later deemed safe, and a revolver on the scene, said Long Beach Police Chief Robert Luna. The devices were in Kim's apartment, where the fire and explosion took place.

Several residents told The Press Telegram newspaper that they had heard a strong "boom" and "bang" that looked like an earthquake, coming from the second floor and the sound of broken glass.

According to its website, Covenant Manor has approximately 100 apartments and serves low-income seniors aged 62 and over, as well as adults with disabilities. Eighty residents remained evacuated Monday afternoon, Luna said.

"We have a lot of questions about the devices that were found and the suspect's intention," he explained.

Although he described the case as a "big puzzle that we are still trying to piece together," Luna confirmed that "preliminary evidence and testimony" showed that Kim had lit the fire and set off the fire. Explosion to bring firefighters into the building. ambush.

"It is the environment in which we are working today as law enforcement and firefighters: you go into these scenes and you never know what there is on the other side of these doors, "said the chief of police. "These brave firemen went through these gates and unfortunately they were met with shots."

Few things were immediately known about Kim, although the police claimed to have been arrested years ago for auto theft and that detectives are examining reports of erratic past behavior.

A few hours after the shooting, the Long Beach firefighters issued a "last call" for Rosa, the fallen captain, who had been at the Long Beach Fire Department for 17 years.

A "devoted family man," Rosa was married to two sons, aged 16 and 25, who had grown up around the firehouse, KTLA spokesman Jake Heflin told a fire department spokesperson. His colleagues remembered him as a dedicated and beloved captain and who was a mentor to the young firefighters.

"It was a joy to be around and a wonderful person," Duree told reporters, choking her tears. "It's a tough day … it left a big gap."

Standing silent and dark, firefighters and other public security agencies on the other side of the area lined roads, highways and viaducts to honor and pay tribute to Rosa's body escorted from the city. hospital at the coroner's office at around 12:20 pm Monday.

Torres was released from the hospital Monday night and is expected to recover completely. The 35-year-old man has been working for the ministry for 12 years. The wounded civilian, an elderly man who has not been identified, remains hospitalized in a stable but critical condition.

"It is important to note that firefighters in the region, the state and across the country are putting themselves at risk for serving their community," said Mr. Duree. "Captain Rosa responded to this call this morning in the service of his community, and he paid the ultimate sacrifice."