The firefighters were shot about 7:30 p.m.at the door of a house in the 5000 block of Sharon Road, in the Temple Hills-Camp Springs area, as they were trying to get inside, county officials said.
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John “Skillet” Ulmschneider and Kevin Swain responded with both an engine and medical team of firefighters Friday night in Prince George’s County, the department said in a news release.
The other firefighter remains hospitalized in critical condition.
The brother of the man who lived at the home was not seriously injured, Prince George’s County police Chief Henry P. Stawinski III said at a news conference.
A County Fire Spokesperson tells WUSA9 the suspect in questioning is the homeowner who received that welfare check. “Time could have been of the essence”, he said.
Prince George’s County police chief Hank Stawinski said that there is an absent of facts that would get them to a place where they are confident in placing a charge at this moment. Police have not released the brothers’ names.
Mark Brady, fire department spokesman, said a call such as Friday’s is typical of the fire department’s work when someone’s safety is concerned.
One of the firefighters shot during what should have been a routine medical check is recovering and showing improvements, moving from intensive care.
John Ulmschneider, 39, is a 13-year veteran of the department.
Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Angela Alsobrooks said the county will do a thorough investigation of the shooting. “I can tell you they are really, really appreciative of the response from the fire service, friends and the community at large”, he said. He was shot in the upper body, officials said.
Colleagues said Ulmschneider was a father and husband.
A fire official says the suspect’s sibling made the welfare check request saying his brother suffers from Diabetes and hadn’t responded.
He was rushed to Southern Maryland Hospital where he died of his injury.
According to authorities, the firefighters first knocked on the door of the house, but when they got no answer, they chose to enter. When they arrived on the scene, the person inside was unresponsive, so they chose to force entry.
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One firefighter was killed and the other was hit four times, but survived.
