Memphis Mourns Gun Rampage Victims

Memphis was a city in mourning Thursday--flags were at half-staff, bouquets of flowers were placed on fire hall steps and firefighters and law officers wore black bands across their badges.

All were in memory of two firefighters and a sheriff’s deputy who were slain Wednesday--allegedly by one of their comrades, firefighter Fred Williams--in a rampage that has angered and saddened this Mississippi River city.

“It’s just so shocking,” said Pam McFarlin, who took food to firefighters at Fire Station No. 55 and brought a bouquet of flowers to the home where the men were shot. “We all just feel so bad.”

Authorities said Williams, 41, ambushed the firefighters as they arrived to fight a blaze at his home. Williams’ wife, Stacey, was found shot to death in the garage.

Investigators said they were still looking for a motive. Fire Chief H. J. Pickett said the blaze was deliberately set, but investigators were trying to determine whether it was done to lure firefighters to the home, or to cover up Mrs. Williams’ death. It was also unclear whether Fred Williams made the 911 call to report the fire, Police Director Walter Crews said.

Williams, a six-year veteran of the Fire Department, was shot in the groin by a police officer when he refused to put down his weapon, authorities said. Williams was under police guard at a hospital in critical condition. Authorities plan to charge him today but did not give any details.

Witnesses said that when firefighters arrived at the burning home, Williams ran out of the garage firing a shotgun and screaming, “Get away! Get away!”

Killed were firefighters Lt. Javier Lerma, 41, the son of a Memphis firefighter who died battling a blaze in 1977, and Pvt. William Blakemore, 48, Crews said.

Williams did not work at the same station as the men who were killed, but they probably knew one another, Pickett said.

Williams had returned to work Monday after taking a leave of absence for “employee assistance,” Crews said, not providing details. Williams left work early Monday, claiming he was sick, and had not returned for shifts Tuesday or Wednesday.

Crews said the couple had married on Valentine’s Day and Williams moved into the house this week. He faced a court hearing next week on a domestic violence charge from October involving Mrs. Williams, then his fiancee. Details were not available.

Neighbors had reported seeing smoke coming from the house and alerted Williams, but he said everything was fine, authorities said.

Sheriff’s Deputy Rupert Peete, 45, was shot in his patrol car. Deborah Gatewood, 46, who tried to warn Peete that Williams had a gun, was reported in satisfactory condition Thursday after being shot in the face.

Firefighters received counseling Thursday.