Martin County (Florida) Firefighter Jahwann McIntyre was
part of the crew from MCFR station 23 who were working that structure
fire in a two story home early this morning when the incident occurred. He was
inside with two other Firefighters conducting a primary search for trapped
occupants - when something went wrong. According to MCFR- they do not
know what happened and right now are focused only on our brother and his
family. There are several agencies including the Florida State Fire Marshal
are investigating the scene and an accurate picture of the incident will
emerge in the coming days. Firefighter McIntrye was severely burned and is
truly fighting for his life. Please keep the prayers coming for this young man.
Naturally, we will keep you updated as well as we all hope
and pray for this Firefighters recovery.
OPINION:
WHEN
SUCKER PUNCHED-EVERYONE
CANNOT GO HOME.
There have
certainly been lots of discussion about the murders of the West Webster
Firefighters in the media, both social and regular and blogs etc.
Look,
from talking to those who were there, this was an intentionally planned
assassination covered by the dark of night. A chicken sh!t murderer
hiding-ready to murder once again ...with well intentioned Firefighters
doing what you and I would have done... trying to do good-it could have
been any Firefighter in any community ....while so many FF Line of Duty deaths can be avoided,
this one could not have been, given the circumstances.
Sure, people
will say this and that about the gun laws, ex-cons etc-and it's our opinion
that someone who killed previously (in the manner that he did) should have
not been released-but we aren't in charge of that kinda stuff.
Given the known circumstances, there was not any realistic way to prevent the
horrific murders of hero Firefighters Chiapperini and Kaczowka. There was no
known recent previous information or anything even on their arrival and size up
to think they were doing anything other than helping a citizen save
their home-little did they know they were set up. That is a rare occasion
although, it does and has happened. (see the the many links below)
When Firefighters arrive on any scene, we "size up" the
situation. Even before a run, we take known info and apply it to
pre-plan our responses. In the case of West Webster-there were absolutely no
indications that these Firefighters were in any harms way-other than the
accepted and known danger in fighting the fire. And they were certainly
prepared for that.
Anyone who
knows about the WWFD will tell you they are amongst the best in training and
operations. Truly unpaid Professionals.
Their reputation has always been solid.
Little did
they know...with nothing seen on their arrival and size up, that there was
anything to indicate they would be targeted and gunned down...nothing
until the shots were fired and it was over.
It
was a cowardly sucker punch in the worst possible sense. It was a set up.
KILLER
KILLED HIMSELF
The autopsy
shows the U.S. gunman who lured the 2 West Webster Firefighters to
their deaths died of a self-inflicted shot to the head and wasn't hit by return
fire from a police officer. A positive identification of the body found in
62-year-old gunman's burned house hasn't been made. Police believe it was his
sister. Police say autopsies Thursday show West Webster Firefighter Michael
Chiapperini died of a single gunshot and Tomasz Kaczowka died of two shots.
The two wounded Firefighters, Joseph Hofstetter and Theodore Scardino have been
upgraded to satisfactory condition at Rochester's Strong Memorial Hospital. The
hospital released a statement from the firefighters saying they're
"humbled and a bit overwhelmed" by the outpouring of well wishes and
support for them and their families. Investigators haven't yet said how the
ex-convict got the weapons. He was barred from possessing them-but that didn't
stop him.
FUNERAL/MEMORIAL
REMINDER:
Calling hours for FF's Michael Chiapperini and Tomasz
Kaczowka will be held at Webster Schroeder High School from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Friday and from noon to 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday.
The funeral service for Chiapperini, who was also a lieutenant with the Webster
Police Department, will be held at the high school at noon Sunday. He will be
buried in West Webster Cemetery.
The funeral Mass for Kaczowka will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Stanislaus
Church in Rochester. Burial will be at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Rochester.
REMINDER-A
CALL TO ACTION:
Please take a moment to addres the Aerican Flag issue at the
9/11 memorial site in New York City:
