St Louis Firefighter Ambushed in the Line of Duty

KTVI Fox 2 News St. Louis reported this morning as tragedy struck in a suburb of St. Louis. At 5:45 a.m., while responding to reports of a fire, 22-year-old firefighter Ryan Hummert was shot in the head and killed in the line of duty after only 10 months with the Maplewood Fire Department. In an emotional news conference, fire chief Terry Merrell announced that Hummert, son of former Maplewood mayor Andy Hummert, was ambushed by an unnamed suspect.

Ted Kocot, a neighbor of the suspect, said he was awakened by "popping noises", to discover a truck oddly positioned against a tree and on fire outside of a neighbor's home. The suspect in this case has been described by neighbors as an extremely reclusive white male, around 60 years old. "He didn't talk to anyone," said Kocot. Police say that if the homeowner and suspect is indeed the same person, there have been no reports of any trouble with this individual in the past. One neighbor didn't even know that there was still someone living at the home in question.

The young Hummert had recently graduated from the St. Louis County Fire Academy this past March, and had been a St. Louis County paramedic since August 2007. The young firefighter was shot as he initially exited the fire truck, and was pronounced dead at the scene before being transported to a hospital in Richmond Heights. He was later taken to the medical examiner's office. Two police officers were also injured when they arrived at the scene, one shot in his right shoulder. Both were treated and released and are reported in stable condition.

The victims were taken to St. Mary's Hospital in Richmond Heights, and a decontamination tent has been set up outside of the health facility due to reports and speculation of a meth lab possibly being a factor in the case. This has not been substantiated, but the tent has been set up as a precaution.

Televised news reports show that the home of the suspect also burned and lies in charred remains. The suspect is said to have proceeded, after shooting his victims, to start fires in the attic with clothing. There was fiberglass in the upstairs windows, and now roof and the entire contents of the home have burned to the ground. All that remains standing are three brick walls, and smoldering debris is scattered to neighborhood homes and roofs. It was in the late morning that the suspect's home became engulfed in flames, and at this point, no one knows whether the suspect is dead or alive, still holed up inside the residence.

The tragedy surrounding this raging truck and home fire, reportedly with 50 foot flames, is taking place on one of the hottest, most humid days that St. Louis has had this year, with today's heat indexes to reach 105 degrees and high humidity. Police, firefighters and service personnel are being carefully watched for heat exhaustion and stroke as they deal with this unfolding tragedy.

For now, Maplewood city hall has lowered its flags to half mast, and area residents are in shock. Many thoughts and prayers of concern go out to the Hummert family, and to the victims and emergency service professionals managing this precarious situation. There is no word yet as to the fate or identity of the suspect in question.

Update: St. Louis residents, businesses and officials are now planning a memorial to honor the committment of Firefighter Ryan Hummert. Friends and fans are coming together in a collective voice that resonates throughout the city to honor this heroic young man.