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.