There was a massive house fire that ravaged homes overlooking lake ontario. The house fire spread as firefighters tried to dodge gunfire. The firefighters apparently walked into a trap just as they were responding to this. At last word, two firefighters are dead, three other First Responders are wounded, and alleged gunman is dead. Authorities cant say whether other bodies might be found in the eight homes destroyed or damaged by the fire in the town of webster. Shocking, bizarre, tragic today. Cnns poppy harlow is in new york, trying to piece together this horrible chain of events here on Christmas Eve. So what happened, because authorities are saying potentially this was a trap laid out for the firefighters. Thats what the police chief Gerald Pickering said in the last press conference, were awaiting right now another press conference that should start any minute. But he did say that it appears that possibly these four First Responders were lured into what was a trap. It started at 5
Responders. Reporter police at the scene exchanged shots with the gunman, 62yearold william spengler, who was barricaded on a berm near the house. The gun battle meant the fire could not be fought. Seven homes were destroyed. An Armored Vehicle removed two of the firefighters and evacuated more than 30 people who lived nearby. The flag at the fire house in webster already at halfstaff for the newtown victims will now stay lowered for michael chip writtenny, 43, who was also a Police Lieutenant in webster. And tomasz koczowka, who was in his early 20s and a full time 911 dispatcher. You know, people get up in the middle of the night to put out fires, they dont expect to be shot and killed. Reporter the two wounded firefighters are in guarded condition, expected to live, though one has a bullet lodged in his spine. You guys all know each other. How hard is this . Its very difficult its a very difficult situation. Reporter the gunman killed himself as police surrounded his position. He wa
During a routine lock-out call in O’Brien Hall Thursday night, 59 bullets were discharged into a door from the barrel of a Department of Public Safety officer-involved gun.