A firefighter was shot and killed in crime-riddled California on January 31st while battling an early morning dumpster fire, according to officials.
Captain Vidal “Max” Fortuna was shot and killed in Stockton, California after the Stockton Fire Department was called to the scene of a dumpster fire at around 4:45 a.m. on Monday morning. While working to put out the blaze, shots rang out, striking Fortuna.
The 47 year old firefighter was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. Fortuna leaves behind a wife and two adult children.
The shooter, 67 year old Robert Somerville, was arrested at the scene of the shooting and is now facing homicide and weapons charges. According to the Stockton Police Department, Somerville used a .380 caliber handgun in the shooting.
In a statement, Stockton Fire Chief Rick Edwards called the shooting his “worst nightmare,” adding: “This is a very, very sad day for this fire department.”
Later that day, Stockton Police Department spokesperson Joe Silva said that detectives were still in the process of piecing together the events leading up to the shooting.
Speaking with Fox News Digital, Silva said: “We don’t have a motive. We don’t know if they knew each other or not.”
Capt. Fortuna was a 21 year veteran of the Stockton Fire Department.
“Max was a firefighter who showed up every day and never complained about being on the job. I don’t really know too many other firefighters who enjoy the job as much as him,” Stockton Professional Firefighters Union President Mario Gardea said in a statement on Monday.
On Monday afternoon, the Stockton Fire Department and Police Department escorted Fortuna from the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office to Casa Bonita Funeral Home. Around a dozen police officers on motorcycles joined two fire trucks to escort the hearse through Stockton.
