Man Who Shot Md. Firefighter is Not Facing Charges
Source Firehouse.com News
The Temple Hills homeowner who shot two Prince George's County firefighters will not be charged.
The man was released from police custody Saturday while detectives continue their investigation, according to Prince George's County police officials. Detecticves
Firefighter/Paramedic John "Skillet" Ulmschneider, 37, died at Southern Maryland Hospital, officials announced at a late night press conference.
Meanwhile, Morningside Vol. Fire Co. Firefighter Kevin Swain, 19, is in serious condition following surgery at R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center.
A civilian, who made the call for firefighters to check on a relative on Sharon Road, also was shot, but not seriously injured, officials said.
When firefighters arrived at the residence, they couldn't contact the man inside. Fearing he may be in need of medical assistance, firefighters made forcible entry. And, that's when shots rang out.
The suspect was taken into custody by Prince George's County Police.
Ulmschneider is survived by a wife and child. Officials said his relatives were at the hospital with him.
“Please keep all of our folks and their families in your thoughts and prayers as we work through this difficult time,” Fire Chief Marc S. Bashoor said.
“This is a day that we have all dreaded in our minds," IAFF Local President Andrew Pantelis said in a written statement. "We are keenly aware of the dangers of our profession but we all have hoped that God would continue to look over and protect us. Now that tragedy has stricken us, we must not fall apart but stand strong and band together to support Skillet's family and those who are closest to him.”
In 2009, Ulmschneider responded to a man who who was trapped under the real wheels of a van after the parking brake failed.
Citizens were trying to lift the van off the man with a floor jack, but it had reached it's maximum lifting spread.
"Firefighter Ulmschneider managed to raise it enough...to remove the citizen from the underside of the truck," a write-up on the incident stated.
In January, East Pulaski, Ark. Fire Lt. Jason Adams, 29, was shot and killed by a man who thought the responder was an intruder.
Adams responded to the man's home after his wife called 911 when the man suffered a seizure.
The man was later charged with manslaughter.
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