Gunman Ambushes Firefighters; 4 Die

Firefighters responding to a house fire Wednesday were ambushed by an off-duty Memphis firefighter who stepped out of the garage and began shooting, authorities said. Two firefighters and a sheriff’s deputy were killed and a woman was found dead in the garage.

The suspected gunman, Fred Williams, was wounded and was undergoing surgery, Police Director Walter E. Crews said. A bystander also was wounded, but not seriously. Williams had just returned to work as a firefighter this week after an extended leave on disability, Crews said.

“We don’t expect this. We’re here to fight fires. You want to say it’s part of the job, but it’s not,” Memphis Fire Chief H.J. Pickett said.

Williams did not live in the house, and his relationship to the dead woman was unclear, Crews said. Authorities also were uncertain how the woman was killed and whether the fire was set to cover up her death.

Firefighters were called to the home just before 1 p.m.

When they arrived, witnesses said, a man came out of the garage firing a shotgun and shouting “Get away! Get away!”

Firefighters Lt. Javier Lerma and Pvt. William Blakemore were killed.

Sheriff’s Deputy Rupert Peete was shot as he responded to the report of the shooting, authorities said.

The gun battle erupted when the gunman refused police orders to put down his weapon, Crews said.

The shootings occurred in a neighborhood of mostly one-story brick houses and well-kept yards at the edge of the city.