Firefighters were responding to a call for a welfare check and shots were fired when they approached a house in the 5000 block of Sharon Road, Prince George’s County Fire Department spokesperson Mark Brady told News4. John Ulmshneider, 39, died Friday night, according to Prince George’s County Police Department spokeswoman Julie Parker.
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Mr Ulmschneider – who leaves behind a wife and a two-year-old daughter – had served 13 years with the county’s emergency medical services.
Authorities say firefighters and police were responding to a call of an unresponsive person when the two were shot. “He’s being cooperative, and we are having a conversation with both him and the concerned resident that brought this circumstance to our attention initially”, said Chief Hank Stawinski, Prince George’s County Police Department.
One male civilian, a relative of the shooter, “sustained a gunshot wound to his shoulder and transported to a local hospital for treatment”, said the statement. “It was simply the resident inside”, Stawinski said. “At that point, they decided the best course of action was to try to enter the home, check on the individual”, Stawinski said.
The suspect turned himself in and is cooperating with investigators, police say.
Colleagues mourned the fallen paramedic, described as a father and a husband. The conditions of the other firefighter and the neighbor are unknown at this time.
Authorities say the firefighters approached the front door where the suspect opened it and started firing.
“Tonight we’re here to express our sorrow, to support the men and women of this department, to wrap our arms around this family and to be here as a family”, Alsobrooks said.
The volunteer firefighter, Kevin Swain, was on the engine company.
Our thoughts and prayers are with our brothers in Prince George’s County. The two were treated at the hospital and released Saturday.
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One of the firefighters has died.
