Memorial Service Set For Long Beach Fire Captain

LONG BEACH, CA – A memorial service for Long Beach Fire Captain Dave Rosa, who was shot and killed last week while responding to an explosion at a senior complex, is scheduled Tuesday, July 3 at 10 a.m. at the Long Beach Convention Center.

Rosa, a 17-year Long Beach Fire Department veteran, a husband and father of two sons, was the first Long Beach firefighter to be killed in the line of duty in more than 40 years.

Thomas Man Kim, 77, allegedly shot and killed Rosa early June 25 as firefighters responded to the explosion at Covenant Manor, an 11-story building where Kim lived in the 600 block of East Fourth Street in Long Beach. Kim also allegedly wounded firefighter Ernesto Torres, 35, and a civilian who lived in the building, according to prosecutors.

Kim allegedly set off an explosive device in his apartment in an effort to kill a female neighbor, who lived above him and with whom he was feuding, according to prosecutors.

Police said a note drafted by Kim and recovered at the scene led investigators to believe it was a murder/suicide attempt. A preliminary investigation led police to believe the fire was set as a result of the dispute between Kim and his neighbor, not to draw first responders to the location to ambush them, according to a statement issued by the Long Beach Police Department.

Kim will be arraigned July 5 in a Long Beach courtroom on one count each of murder, attempted murder of a firefighter, arson of an inhabited structure and explosion with intent to murder, along with two counts of attempted murder.

The murder charge includes the special circumstance allegation of murder while a firefighter was on duty, along with an allegation that he personally and intentionally discharged a handgun that caused great bodily injury and death.

In a Tweet, the Long Beach Firefighters Association wrote that JetBlue is offering free flights for firefighters who want to attend the memorial service. The offer is limited to two members per department, according to the association's website.

An official site for donations in Captain Rosa's honor was established at www.firecaptainrosa.org

The Long Beach Convention Center, where the service will be held, is located at 300 East Ocean Blvd.

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--Image courtesy of Long Beach Fire Department/City News Service and Emily Holland contributed to this report