A firefighter died after being shot while extinguishing a dumpster fire in Stockton, California.
Capt. Max Fortuna, a 21-year veteran of the Stockton Fire Department, was on the scene of the fire when gunshots were heard and Fortuna was shot. The fire captain was transported to an area hospital, where he died.
“This is my worst nightmare as a fire chief,” said Stockton Fire Chief Rick Edwards at a press conference. “My message to my firefighters is to be strong. My heart breaks with you, but we will get through this.”
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A 67-year-old man named Robert Somerville was detained and arrested at the scene, according to police officials. A firearm was also located at the scene, although no other suspects have been identified or located. The investigation is ongoing.
A spokesperson from the Stockton Police Department noted firefighters getting shot while in the line of duty is extremely rare.
“[The shooter is] a coward with a gun who took the life of a firefighter this morning, and I hope everybody who’s watching tonight, please keep your thoughts and prayers with our firefighter and our fire department family,” the spokesperson said.
Fortuna, 47, leaves behind a wife and two grown children. After his death, several of Fortuna’s coworkers had kind things to say about him.
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“Today is a good representation of the kind of person Max was. Max was a firefighter who showed up every day and never complained about being on the job,” said Mario Gardea, president of the Stockton Professional Firefighters Union.
Stockton Mayor Kevin Lincoln echoed Gardea’s remarks, saying Fortuna was “one of our heroes.”
