Reuters
A fire burns on Lake Road after a suspect shot four firefighters responding to the blaze in Webster.
A sadistic gunman killed two firefighters and wounded three other first responders in western New York this morning after setting a blaze to lure victims into shooting range, officials said.
The murderer traded gunfire with cops and was eventually killed -- though it wasn’t immediately clear if officers brought him down, or if he committed suicide, said Webster police chief Gerald Pickering.
“It does appear it was a trap that was set for ... first responders,” Pickering said. “Causative reasons, we don’t have at this time.”
The fire, near the Lake Ontario shore just east of Rochester, broke out at 191 Lake Road at 5:45 a.m., and quickly spread to two more houses and a car, officials said.
Firefighters had to fall back after shots were fired, and flames eventually spread to seven more houses, officials said. Four houses were burned down and four were damaged by the time all flames were brought under control.
Pickering choked back tears as he revealed names of the two fatally wounded victims.
One of the fallen firefighters, 43-year-old Michael Chiapperini, was a volunteer -- his day job was a lieutenant in Webster’s police department, officials said.
The other tragically killed Bravest Tomasz Kaczowka, who was a Monroe County 911 dispatcher, officials said.
“These people get up in the middle of the night to fight fires,” said Pickering. “They don't expect to be shot and killed.”
Two of Webster's Bravest who were shot and wounded are in guarded condition at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, officials said. One was reportedly shot through the hip and is in surgery this morning. He's expected to survive.
John Ritter, a police officer from nearby Greece, was wounded by flying shrapnel after responding in his private car, officials said.
“We don’t know for sure where he [the killer] was when the initial shots were fired,” Pickering said. “First responding police officers did engage a shooter. There was some pursuit on foot.”
The killer’s body and his weapon were recovered a short distance away from where the fire was set, officials said.
“The shooter … was found outside, in [close] proximity of the home,” Pickering added.
Webster officials can’t remember another time when firefighters came under gunfire.
“I’m not aware of anything like this happening in Webster, obviously not a firefighter being fired upon,” fire marshal Rob Boutillier said.
Webster resident Michael Damico woke up at 8 a.m. to see flames down the street and a SWAT team going on a frantic, door-to-door search for a cold-blooded killer.
“The whole strip’s been evacuated!” Damico told the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. “We looked out the window and we saw the SWAT team and everyone around.”
Residents near the fire were evacuated on Regional Transit Service buses, even as flames threatened their homes.
“Some people on this bus already watched their houses burn,” added Damico. “They’re not happy.”
Monroe County clerk Cheryl Dinolfo ordered all government flags lowered to half-mast.
“The words are truly unspeakable,” Dinolfo told WHAM-AM. “It’s hard to imagine such a tragedy happening here.”
Dinolfo urged parents to speak gently to their kids about this tragedy in Webster and the recent school massacre in Newtown, Conn.
“It’s a raw emotion for these young people to have in their hearts and their heads,” she said. “We can’t let evil overtake us. We have to get out there and fight and combat evil.”
“When we’re confronted with these horrific events,” she added, “we have to sit back and provide balance [to fearful children].”
Gov. Cuomo asked New Yorkers to pray for the firefighters' families, victimized in this "senseless act of violence."
“New York's first responders are true heroes as they time and again selflessly rush toward danger in order to keep our families and communities safe, " Cuomo said in a prepared statement.
“On behalf of my family and all New Yorkers, I offer my deepest condolences to the families and friends of those killed today and pray for the recovery of the injured.”
Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said today, "Following this senseless tragedy, our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who have lost their lives in the line of duty, heroically protecting the communities they serve. The contributions made by the fallen and injured officers in Webster will never be forgotten."
