Sandy MaloneStockton, CA – A 21-year Stockton firefighting veteran was fatally shot on Monday morning as he worked to extinguish a fire in a dumpster.
The shooting occurred just after 4:55 a.m. on Jan. 31 as Stockton Fire Department firefighters responded to a call about a dumpster fire in the area of Aurora and Washington Streets, KCRA reported.
Officials said that Stockton Fire Captain Videl “Max” Fortuna was one of several firefighters with Engine #2 who were helping to put out the fire blazing near a structure when gunshots rang out, KOVR reported.
Firefighters transported the wounded hero to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead, KCRA reported.
Stockton police responded to the scene of the shooting just after 5 a.m. and arrested a 67-year-old man, FOX News reported.
Stockton Police Assistant Chief Jim Chraska said officers recovered a gun at the scene.
Asst. Chief Chraska said they didn’t believe there were any other suspects involved in the shooting, KCRA reported.
“This highlights the dangers public safety faces every day. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Fortuna family,” he said.
This morning, while working a fire in the area of Aurora Street & Washington Street, a Stockton Firefighter was shot. The firefighter has been transported to an area hospital. There is no update on the firefighter’s condition. Officers have detained a subject at the scene. pic.twitter.com/5OxnDzHxKJ
— Stockton Police Dept (@StocktonPolice) January 31, 2022
BREAKING: Stockton Fire Capt. Max Fortuna, the veteran firefighter who was shot while just doing his job responding to a fire this morning, has died. Announcement just now came from Stockton Fire Chief Rick Edwards. pic.twitter.com/xLcu6QuTRK
— Eytan Wallace (@EytanWallace) January 31, 2022
Stockton Fire Chief Rick Edwards called Fortuna’s murder his “worst nightmare,” KCRA reported.
Edwards called on the rest of his fire department to be strong.
“My heart breaks with you but we will get through this,” he said.
Fortuna, a 21-year veteran of the fire department, is survived by his wife and two adult children, KCRA reported.
Very somber and sad day in Stockton. Veteran Fire Captain Max Fortuna was shot and killed after responding with his fellow firefighters to a dumpster fire this morning near Downtown Stockton. He lives behind a wife and two grown children. @ABC10 pic.twitter.com/ZHj45rzeap
— kurtriveratv (@kurtriveratv) January 31, 2022
“Today is a good representation of the kind of person Max was. Max was a firefighter who showed up every day and never complained about being on the job,” Stockton Professional Firefighters Union President Mario Gardea said.
Stockton Mayor Kevin Lincoln called Fortuna “one of our heroes,” KCRA reported.
“This is a sobering reminder of the many sacrifices our firefighters make day in and day out in service to our community,” Lincoln said. “His leadership, his commitment to our city is reflected here by his brothers, his sisters, his community showing relentless support.”
LiveCopter 3 is over a procession for the Stockton firefighter killed in a shooting while responding to a fire https://t.co/OBOvmqZbzE
— kcranews (@kcranews) January 31, 2022
He called on the community to show their support for the fallen firefighter’s family, KCRA reported.
“The pain that we feel as a community does not compare to the pain that the Fortuna family is experiencing right now, so I make a call to all residents in the city of Stockton to not only show love and support for your Stockton firefighters, but also show an extreme amount of love and support for the Fortuna family,” the mayor said.
Officials have not yet released the identity of the gunman, nor have the released any information about a motive for the shooting.
Holly Matkin
