CA Firefighter Fatally Shot While Fighting Dumpster Fire

STOCKTON, CA — A California firefighter was shot to death Monday while he was in the middle of extinguishing a dumpster fire in Stockton, officials reported.

At 4:45 a.m., authorities received a 911 call for a dumpster fire in the area of Washington and Aurora streets. Veteran Fire Captain Max Fortuna was stuck by gunfire as he worked to put out the fire — which was impinging on a building, according to the Stockton Fire Department.

Fortuna, who served as a firefighter in Stockton for 21 years was rushed to a hospital, but he died of his injuries.

"I’m devastated to report that Veteran Fire Captain Max Fortuna has succumbed to his injuries," Stockton Fire Chief Richard Edwards wrote in a statement. "Captain Fortuna served the City of Stockton for 21 years and leaves behind a wife and two grown children.

"I ask you to keep Captain Fortuna’s family and the Stockton Fire Department family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time."

Later on Monday, police located and arrested a 67-year-old man in connection with the shooting, NBC News reported.

"We have the person who did the shooting in custody,"Officer Joe Silva, a Stockton police spokesman, said late Monday, according to NBC.

Robert Sommerville was arrested on homicide and weapons charges after a .380-caliber handgun was found at the scene. A motive was not known.