One firefighter was killed and another injured after one of their co-workers opened fire at a Los Angeles County Fire Department station in a community north of Los Angeles Tuesday morning, authorities said.
The deceased firefighter is a 44-year-old engineer expert who had been with the Los Angeles County Fire Department for more than 20 years, said Los Angeles County Fire Chief Daryl Osby at a news conference.
Officials said the wounded is a 54-year-old fire captain, who was airlifted by helicopter to a nearby hospital and remained in "critical but stable condition."
The shooter was confirmed as an off-duty firefighter who came to the fire station and confronted one of his colleagues. After the shooting, the shooter fled the scene to his home miles away and barricaded himself in his house.
"The home was set on fire and he was also found deceased," Osby told reporters.
"I stand here with a heavy heart. Today is truly a sad day and a tragic day for the Los Angeles County Fire Department," Osby lamented.
"As fire chief I never thought when our firefighters face danger they would face that danger at one of our community fire stations," he noted.
"It is with heavy hearts that the LACoFD confirms that a tragic shooting occurred at approximately 10:55 a.m. today at FS (Fire Station) 81 in Agua Dulce," Los Angeles County Fire Department said on Twitter Tuesday morning, noting that the department was in the process of gathering additional information and cooperating with other law enforcement agencies throughout this ongoing incident.
Officials said the incident is still under investigation.
