St. Louis Firefighter/Medic killed by gunman in the LOD.

[Riblett]

MAPLEWOOD, Mo. — Firefighters became victims of what appeared to be an ambush Monday when they were fired upon from a house as they worked to put out a vehicle fire across the street, police said. One young firefighter was killed, two police officers were wounded and the house where the shots were fired later burned to the ground.

It was unclear Monday afternoon whether the gunman died in the house fire; authorities were searching the remains of the brick bungalow, St. Louis County police spokeswoman Tracy Panus said.

Little was known about the man who lived in the house in Maplewood, a suburb just southwest of St. Louis. Neighbors described him as quiet and reclusive.

Someone began firing shots from the house when firefighters arrived in response to a 5:40 a.m. report of a pickup truck fire.

The city identified the slain firefighter as 22-year-old Ryan Hummert, son of former Maplewood Mayor Andy Hummert. Officials said he was shot to death as he got off the fire truck.

The firefighter had graduated from paramedic training in August and from the fire academy in March.

"He had been with the fire department for only 10 months but knew it was his calling," Fire Chief Terry Merrell said as he fought back tears. "It's impossible to say in words the emotion and pain we are feeling right now."

A Maplewood police officer was treated for a shoulder wound that was not considered life-threatening, St. Mary's Hospital spokesman Eric Clark said. There was no immediate word on the condition of the other wounded police officer, who was taken to another hospital.

Police evacuated some nearby homes - using armored vehicles in some cases - as dozens of officers surrounded the house.

"They knocked on my door - bam, bam!" said neighbor Joanna Bedford, who was asleep when police arrived. "They said, 'Let's go. Go right now!'"

The house caught fire later in the morning. Police rifles stayed pointed at the house as smoke poured from it, but authorities saw no one leave the building before it burned to the ground.

By the afternoon, the house had collapsed, Panus said, and police were using heavy equipment to sort through the debris. A neighboring home also was damaged by the fire.

Peter McCreary, a St. Louis County police chaplain, said his mother lives across the street. The burning truck was in her driveway, but it wasn't hers and she didn't know how it got there.

McCreary said his mother, 81-year-old Julia McCreary, awoke to what she thought was a backfiring vehicle. It turned out to be gunfire. Soon thereafter, police arrived and took her out a back door, carrying her over a fence to safety.

Julia McCreary told her son that in the two years she lived in the house she had waved to the man, but that he never spoke to her.

Sanyoz Rai, who works at a 7-Eleven store nearby, said he heard three or four shots around 5:45 a.m., then saw a police officer go to the ground holding his shoulder. Rai said he then saw a firefighter on the ground behind the truck. He said the body remained there for an hour before authorities could get close enough to remove it.

Black and purple bunting was placed around Maplewood City Hall, where people cried and hugged each other and the flag was lowered to half-staff.

"I can't believe someone would do this," said 9-year-old son Nathan Manestar, who came with his mother and brother to place flowers at the base of the flagpole.

http://www.wral.com/news/national_world/na.../story/3244130/

[Riblett]

I hope that SOB who did this burned to death slowly and very painfully. If not, string him up by his gonads, throw rocks at him, strangle him slowly. Tie him up and throw him in boiling oil. No judge, no jury, just kill him. What sort of low life could be capable of committing such an atrocity?

No forgiveness, no mercy.

[spenac]

See additional in news area: http://www.emtcity.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.ph...&highlight=

[firedoc5]

You beat me to it, Rib. We're close enough to St.Louis that it's almost local news.

I still haven't heard whether or not the gunman set the truck on fire then waited, or if he noticed the truck fire and decided to shoot at anyone that responded.

This hits so close to home. It's heartbreaking. With it being so senseless it makes it even more emotional.

Godspeed, Ryan. :angel11:

[Just Plain Ruff]

I hope that SOB who did this burned to death slowly and very painfully. If not, string him up by his gonads, throw rocks at him, strangle him slowly. Tie him up and throw him in boiling oil. No judge, no jury, just kill him. What sort of low life could be capable of committing such an atrocity?

No forgiveness, no mercy.

I'm sorry but that is Harsh. There had to be something going thru this guys head that he decided to do something like that.

Not that i'm a bleeding heart but everyone deserves their day in court only so we can all see how much of a screwed up jerkwad the guy was.

I have a feeling the guy died in the fire but I have read nothing more about the guys fate.

do I think he deserves to pay for his crimes yes but come on, why such an emotional reaction to a emotional situation.

[letmesleep]

Its time to move away from the a**hole who did this no matter what the cause and take care of the family of our fallen BROTHER.

Its a sad day in St Louis Co, as well as the surrounding areas.

[Laura Anne]

My heart goes out to the family and friends of this brave young man. He was taken way too early in his life, and I think what's even more bothersome is WHY????? Have they found out who or why this person did what they did? The anger and heartbreak we all suffer, especially those who knew him, need a closure; a place for the unanswered questions. It's terrifying to think there's people out there like this, but they're there.......so PLEASE, everyone keep safe!

[Christopher.Collins]

We are always told "they attack the uniform not the person." I guess this is true, but regardless of this persons wrongfull actions (and it dosnt matter who is killed FF/EMT/PO) but its kinda hard to mistake bunker gear with a police uniform. Maybe this guy was "off his meds" who knows... but this is just screwed up.

Regardless, rest in peace brother.

[Lone Star]

I found this today, as I was surfing MSN's website to catch up on current events:

[align=center:02aea14150]Burned remains ID’d as man in police standoff [/align:02aea14150]

[align=center:02aea14150]Mark Knobbe committed suicide by shooting himself in the head [/align:02aea14150]

MAPLEWOOD, Mo. - The medical examiner in Missouri's St. Louis County has identified charred remains found at a burned house where a firefighter was killed as the body of the homeowner.

Dr. Mary Case said 52-year-old Mark Knobbe committed suicide by shooting himself in the head at his home in the St. Louis suburb of Maplewood.

A Maplewood firefighter was killed by gunfire Monday outside Knobbe's house when fire crews went to extinguish a burning pickup truck. Two police officers were wounded.

Knobbe's body was identified Wednesday with the help of dental records.

[letmesleep]

http://www.myfoxstl.com/myfox/MyFox/pages/...mp;locale=EN-US