Fire captain, father-of-two, is shot dead while fighting California dumpster fire: Heartbroken colleagues pay tribute to 22-year-old veteran
- Max Fortuna, 47, was shot dead while putting out a fire dumpster in Stockton
- The shooting happened around 5 a.m. Monday morning before Fortuna was taken to an area hospital, where he died of his injuries
- A 67-year-old suspect was arrested but his motive was not immediately clear
- Retired and active firefighters met at the fire department’s central station to honor Fortuna, who had served as a firefighter for the past 22 years
Captain Max Fortuna, 47, had been a firefighter with the Stockton Department for 22 years when he was shot dead in the early hours of Monday morning while putting out a dumpster fire.
A beloved fire captain has been shot dead in California while battling a dumpster fire and his suspected killer has been arrested.
Captain Max Fortuna, 47, was taken to a local hospital in Stockton, between San Francisco and Sacramento, where he succumbed to his injuries around 11 a.m.
He is survived by his wife and two adult children.
An unidentified 67-year-old man was arrested by police. The Stockton Police Department told DailyMail.com a motive was not immediately clear and they could not name the suspect at this time.
“This is my worst nightmare as a fire chief,” Stockton Fire Chief Rick Edwards said. “My message to my firefighters is to be strong, my heart breaks with you but we will get through this.”
Fortuna was a 22-year veteran of the Stockton Fire Department. Retired and active firefighters gathered at the fire department’s central station to honor the victim.
“Max was a firefighter who showed up every day and never complained about being on the job,” said Mario Gardea, president of the Stockton Professional Firefighters Union. “I don’t know many other firefighters who enjoyed their work as much as he did.”
The shooting is still under investigation, officials said. It is still unknown if Fortuna was shot randomly or deliberately. The weapon used by the suspect was found at the scene of the shooting.
A Stockton Fire Department vehicle is parked where a firefighter was shot while working on a blaze in Stockton, California on Monday
The Stockton Fire Department honored Fortuna, who was a 22-year veteran of the service, by bringing together former and active firefighters this afternoon
At the time of the tragedy, the Stockton Fire Department was responding to a call at 4:45 a.m. Monday morning of a dumpster fire in the Aurora Street and Washington Street area.
Gunshots were heard and Fortuna was hit as the fire was extinguished. His fellow firefighters tried to save his life before taking him to hospital.
“The Stockton Fire Department is a brotherhood, it’s a brotherhood,” Mayor Kevin Lincoln said at a press conference. “As a city, we will do everything we can under our will and power to support this family and support our fire department.”
“Once again, firefighters are part of our public safety family, and it hits us all hard,” said Stockton Police Department Officer Joe Silva. “It just shows the dangers of our work. At this time, our thoughts and prayers are with the firefighter’s family and all of our firefighters here in the town of Stockton.
Police said at the public event that they did not expect there to be any other suspects in the incident.
