Missouri Man kills fireman, injures 2 police after starting house and vehicle blaze

MAPLEWOOD, Mo. - A suburban St. Louis firefighter was shot to death Monday and two other emergency workers were injured in a standoff with a gunman in a smoke-filled house.

The incident began with a report of a pickup truck fire Monday morning in Maplewood, a suburban town just southwest of St. Louis.

When firefighters arrived, someone began firing shots from a house that also appeared to be on fire. Police responded, and at least one officer was also reportedly struck.

St. Mary's Hospital spokesman Eric Clark said a firefighter/paramedic from Maplewood was killed. The victim's name was not released.

A Maplewood police officer was also taken to the hospital and was being treated for a gunshot wound to the right shoulder. Clark said his injury is not considered life-threatening.

The third injured emergency worker was taken to another hospital. There was no word on his condition.

Firefighters were pinned behind their fire truck for several hours. The gunman also shot two police officers who also responded to the scene. One of those officers was treated and released. Hummert was pronounced dead at an area hospital.

A rookie firefighter was killed and two police officers were wounded when a gunman opened fire in Maplewood early today.

The gunman might still be holed in a burning home, and police sharpshooters have swarmed the neighborhood near South Big Bend Boulevard and Zephyr Place.

The dead firefighter has been identified as Ryan Hummert, 22, the son of a former Maplewood mayor.

Hummert was fatally shot as he got out of a Maplewood fire truck that came to fight a vehicle fire about 5:45 a.m. today. The gunman -- believed to be hiding in a home on Zephyr -- then shot two Maplewood police officers.

One of those Maplewood cops was critically wounded. The bullet apparently struck the officer's badge, which may have saved his life, a hospital spokeswoman said. A second Maplewood police officer was shot in the right shoulder. He is being treated, but his condition was unavailable.

One of the officers was Adam Fite, a former Jefferson County Sheriff's deputy.

At 10:10 a.m., the American flag and a Maplewood city flag were both lowered to half staff outside Maplewood City Hall.