(Franking) shooting a god damn fireman for putting out a fire? Dude was f*cking younger than I am, even.Firefighter dead, 2 police officers shot in Maplewood
By Patrick M. O'Connell
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Monday, Jul. 21 2008
UPDATED, 10:14 a.m.
MAPLEWOOD -- A rookie firefighter was killed and two police officers were
wounded when a gunman opened fire in Maplewood early today.
The gunman might still be holed up in a burning home, and police sharpshooters
have swarmed the neighborhood near South Big Bend Boulevard and Zephyr Place.
The dead firefighter has been identified as Ryan Hummert, 22.
Hummert was fatally shot as he got out of a Maplewood fire truck as it arrived
at the scene of a vehicle fire about 5:45 a.m. today.
At 10:10 a.m. today, the American flag and a Maplewood city flag were both
lowered to half staff outside Maplewood City Hall.
Meanwhile, a Maplewood police officer is in critical condition at another area
hospital. The bullet struck the officer's badge, which may have saved his life,
a hospital spokeswoman said.
A second Maplewood police officer was shot in the right shoulder. He is being
treated, but his condition was unavailable.
It all started unfolding before 6 a.m. today, when firefighters were responding
to a vehicle fire on Zephyr Place.
"They were about to put out the fire, then I heard a couple of shots," said one
witness, Sanyog Rai, working at a 7-11 store on Big Bend. "I saw a cop holding
his shoulder, and he fell down to the ground."
The house fire started shortly after that. Officers surrounded the home,
believing the gunman was inside.
Three hours later, dozens of police cars from a mix of area departments were
still there. Many of the officers are crouching behind police cars with their
weapons drawn. The St. Louis County police explosives unit rolled up after 9
a.m., as did an armored vehicle from the U.S. Marine Corps. FBI agents were
suiting up in tactical gear.
Paul Kieselhorst, who lives about three blocks from the incident, said he heard
four shots as his wife was leaving for work. Then, he heard a fifth shot.
Kieselhorst saw an ambulance racing from the scene with lights and sirens
blaring. He said police tactical units have evacuated a few people from
adjacent homes.
"They still have the shooter holed up and people are at risk," Kieselhorst said.
The manager of the 7-11, Anuj Srivastava, was at home asleep when the shooting
happened. His second-floor apartment is across the street from the convenience
store. He watched the explosion from the truck fire.
"When the truck exploded, I saw the fireball coming up over the house 150 feet
up," he said.
Casey Smith, who lives in the 7300 block of Zephyr Place, could hear
helicopters hovering overhead about 8:45 a.m. today. She said she was virtually
trapped in her home.
"A friend called to make sure I'm OK," Smith said. "I'm not going outside.
Usually, this is a quiet place. I've never felt threatened."
Hummert, the firefighter who died, was a firefighter-paramedic with Maplewood.
He has been with the city since last August, when he graduated paramedic
school. He graduated from the St. Louis County fire academy this year. Hummert
graduated Rockwood Summit High School in 2004 and was the son of the former
mayor of Maplewood, Andy Hummert, and Jackie Hummert.
kbell@post-dispatch.com 314-340-8115
Nancy Cambria, Robert Cohen and Christian Gooden of the Post-Dispatch staff
contributed to this report.
Check back to STLtoday.com for updates.
I hope this asshole gets the chair.
