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LBFD Captain Is Fatally Shot, A Second LB Firefighter Shot/Wounded, And A Third Elderly Man Is Shot/Wounded At Downtown Residential Retirement High Rise; LBPD Arrests 77 Yr Old Bldg Resident, Booked On Suspicion Of Murder, Two Attempted Murders, And Arson


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(June 26. 2018, reflects multiple June 25 front page daylong updates) -- As flashed on LBREPORT.com's front page at 5:45 a.m., there was gunfire at a downtown (East Village) residential tower (600 E. 4th St.) and in the hours that followed, we learned that LBFD was responding to a reported explosion in one of the units when LBFD Captain, Dave Rosa, 45, was fatally shot, a second LBFD Firefighter was shot/wounded and an elderly retirement building resident was shot/wounded (the latter last reported in critical condition.)

Shortly after daybreak, LBPD said it was questioning a person of interest, a resident of the retirement building, subsequently arrested and identified as Thomas Kim, age 77, booked on suspicion of murder, two counts of attempted murder, and arson.

LBREPORT.com provided LIVE (via Facebook) and subsequent on-demand extended video coverage of an LBFD/LBPD press briefing (including reporters' Q & A) below.

[Scroll down for further]


LBPD displayed this photo of a gun recovered at the scene.

LBFD Captain Rosa. a LB Firefighter for 17 years, a Captain for six and half years, leaves a wife and two children. At midafternoon, a procession of LBFD and LBPD units escorted him to the L.A. County Coroner's office. Shortly after sunset, a candlelight vigil was held outside Fire Station 10 in Central LB, where he most recently worked.


At an 8 a.m. hour press briefing where LBFD Chief Mike DuRee announced Captain Rosa's death, LBPD Chief Robert Luna made an eloquent and stark comment: "That's the environment we work in today, as law enforcement and firefighters. You go to these scenes and you never know what's on the other side of those doors. And these brave firefighters went through those doors and unfortunately they were met with gunfire."

In the 10 p.m. hour, the City of LB issued the following release:

On June 25, 2018, at 3:49 a.m. the Long Beach Fire Department responded to a fire alarm at the 600 block of East 4th Street. There were supplemental calls reporting a fire and an explosion, and occupants reported a strong smell of gasoline in the area. As fire units made their way to the reported location, fire crews noticed windows had been blown out on the 2nd floor of the building. The sprinkler system had been activated, and knock down of the fire occurred at 3:59 a.m.

At 4:08 a.m., there were reports of shots fired. Two Long Beach firefighters who were rushing in to save lives were unexpectedly struck by gunfire. They were both transported to a local trauma center.


LBFD photo

Captain David Rosa, a 17-year veteran of the Long Beach Fire Department, died in the line of duty from injuries he sustained in this incident. Captain Rosa is survived by his wife and two adult children. His last assignment was at Fire Station 10, which is located in Central Long Beach.

Captain Rosa's body was escorted to the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office with full honors. Firefighters and community members from our city and throughout the region turned out to show their support. The Fire Department’s focus remains on Captain Rosa’s family and supporting them through this very difficult time.

Firefighter Ernesto Torres was the second firefighter that was hit by gunfire. He was treated and later released, and is expected to make a full recovery.

The Long Beach Police Department is handling the criminal investigation and have released the following details:

Today, at approximately 4:00 a.m., patrol officers were dispatched to a multi-story residential complex in the 600 block of E. 4th Street to assist the Long Beach Fire Department with traffic control on a structure fire caused by a possible explosion.

During the incident, there were reports of an active shooter and information that two firefighters and a civilian had been shot. Patrol officers began searching for the shooter and SWAT was immediately activated to assist patrol officers in the search for the suspect.

Once on scene, SWAT also provided security for fire personnel as they conducted well checks of residents throughout the building.

After the shooting, two firefighters and a third victim were immediately transported to a local hospital.

The third victim, who is only being identified as an elderly male resident of the building, is still hospitalized and listed in critical but stable condition.

A person of interest was initially detained at the scene and was transported to Police Headquarters for questioning, and was subsequently arrested.

The suspect has been identified as 77-year-old Thomas Kim, who was also a resident of the building. He has been booked for murder, (2) counts of attempted murder, and arson, and is being held on $2,000,000 bail.

A handgun was also recovered at the scene.

The Los Angeles County Bomb Squad responded to the location after it was determined an explosion had occurred during the incident and two suspicious devices were found at the scene. The bomb squad rendered the scene safe and flammable liquids, believed to be gasoline, were removed.

Residents of the building were evacuated and the City of Long Beach Departments of Health and Human Services and Parks, Recreation and Marine, in partnership with the Red Cross, established a shelter at Silverado Park. It is anticipated the majority of residents will be allowed to return to their homes today.

A response team from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office also responded to the scene to assist with the investigation.

Homicide detectives are actively investigating the incident and the motive is still under investigation.

Anyone with information of this incident is urged to call Homicide Detectives Malcolm Evans and Robert Gonzalez at (562) 570-5273. Anonymous tips may be submitted through “LA Crime Stoppers” by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), downloading the “P3 Tips” app to your smart phone (available at the Apple App store and Google Play), or visiting www.lacrimestoppers.org.

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No one in LBREPORT.com's ownership, reporting or editorial decisiom-making has ties to incumbent Long Beach officials, development interests, advocacy groups or other special interests; or is seeking or receiving benefits of City development-related decisions; or holds a City Hall appointive position; or has contributed sums to political campaigns for Long Beach incumbents or challengers. LBREPORT.com is independent, not part of an out of town corporate cluster and no one its ownership, editorial or publishing decisionmaking has been part of the governing board of any City government body or other entity on whose policies we report.
LBREPORT.com is reader and advertiser supported. Support independent news in LB similar to the way people support NPR and PBS stations. We're not non-profit so it's not tax deductible but $49.95 (less than an annual dollar a week) helps keep us online.

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