Pensioner ‘started blaze before gun killing of firefighter’
A 77-YEAR-OLD man started a blaze at his California retirement home to lure firefighters before shooting one dead and wounding another, police said today.
Thomas Kim was arrested last night on suspicion of murder, attempted murder and arson but investigators were still trying to determine a motive for the attack in Long Beach.
Firefighters went to the 11-storey block at about 4am yesterday following reports of an explosion. They found some windows blown out, the smell of gas and a fire which they extinguished. Fire Chief Michael DuRee said that during a search of the building shots rang out and the two firefighters were hit.
Fire Captain Dave Rosa, a father of two, died in hospital. “Long Beach lost a hero today,” the city’s mayor, Robert Garcia, said.
An elderly resident at the home was also shot and was in a critical but stable condition. The injured firefighter, Ernesto Torres, was expected to make a full recovery.
Police Chief Robert Luna said a revolver was found after Kim’s arrest and a bomb squad was called in to make safe two suspicious devices.
Mr Luna did not explain the nature of the devices but said police have “a lot of questions” about what Kim had intended to do with them. He is being held on $2 million (£1.5 million) bail.
Cpt Rosa had been a firefighter for 17 years. Colleagues saluted as the flag-draped coffin carrying his body was brought out of hospital and loaded into a coroner’s van.
Eighty pensioners were evacuated from the retirement home until it could be declared safe.