City to fly flags at half staff in honor of Los Angeles firefighter fatally shot at work

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Tragedy broke out in the Agua Dulce fire station Tuesday at 10:53 a.m. when an off-duty firefighter entered the building and starting shooting, killing a firefighter and wounding a captain.

According to the Los Angeles Times, a 44-year-old Los Angeles County firefighter with 20 years of service in the department was killed by a coworker with whom he had an ongoing dispute. A 54-year-old fire captain tried to intervene but was also shot and is in critical but stable condition. The shooter then left and went to his home in Acton, about 10 miles away, where he barricaded himself inside, then allegedly set his house on fire. Authorities say it appears he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

In light of the tragedy, the City of South Lake Tahoe is lowering its flags in honor of the killed firefighter.

“There is nothing that can prepare firefighters for the pain in dealing with the loss of a colleague who is killed in the line of duty, and the emotional scars never fully heal. Our hearts go out to our brother and sister firefighters in Los Angeles during these tragic and unnecessary times,” said South Lake Tahoe Fire Chief Clive Savacool.

City flags will remain at half staff until Friday, June 4th, 2021.