This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/man-who-shot-prince-georges-firefighters-was-trying-to-defend-himself-sister-says/2016/04/17/4b6008f6-04af-11e6-a12f-ea5aed7958dc_story.html

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Man who shot Prince George’s firefighters was trying to defend himself, sister says Man who shot Prince George’s firefighters was trying to defend himself, sister says
(35 minutes later)
The sister of a man who shot at Prince George’s County firefighters as they forced their way into his house on Friday said her brother was trying to defend himself as he believed someone was breaking into his home. The sister of a man who shot at Prince George’s County firefighters as they forced their way into his house Friday said her brother was trying to defend himself, thinking someone was breaking into his home.
“It was a tragic, horror story,” the man’s sister said Sunday in an interview. “My brother was very sick. He is a gentle person.” “It was a tragic horror story,” the man’s sister said Sunday in an interview. “My brother was very sick. He is a gentle person.”
Firefighters and medics responding to an emergency call from a man who had been unable to reach his diabetic brother decided to break through the brother’s front door in the Temple-Camp Springs area when he did not respond to repeated knocks. As they entered — fearing he might have blacked out or had a seizure — gunshots erupted from inside that killed firefighter John E. Ulmschneider and injured another firefighter and the man’s brother, who was outside with them. Firefighters and medics responding to an emergency call from a man who had been unable to reach his diabetic brother decided to break through the brother’s front door in the Temple-Camp Springs area when he did not respond to repeated knocks. As they entered — fearing he might have blacked out or had a seizure — gunshots erupted from inside, killing firefighter John E. Ulmschneider and injuring another and the man’s brother, who was outside with them.
“We are so sorry about the firefighter and for the family,” the man’s sister said. “We were praying so hard.”“We are so sorry about the firefighter and for the family,” the man’s sister said. “We were praying so hard.”
The sister asked not to be identified to protect the privacy of her family. She said her brother is still being monitored by doctors, but she declined to specify his medical condition. The Washington Post is not identifying the shooter because he has not been charged and police have not named him publicly. Efforts to reach the man by phone on Sunday were not successful. The sister asked that she not be identified to protect the privacy of her family. She said her brother is still being monitored by doctors, but she declined to specify his medical condition. The Washington Post is not identifying the shooter because he has not been charged and police have not named him publicly. Efforts to reach the man by phone Sunday were not successful.
The 61-year-old man was released from police custody Saturday night, according to authorities, and no charges have been filed.The 61-year-old man was released from police custody Saturday night, according to authorities, and no charges have been filed.
A spokesman for the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office said Sunday that the sister’s account of the shooting is consistent with the office’s preliminarily assessment that it might have been a tragic mistake. A spokesman for the Prince George’s County state’s attorney’s office said Sunday that the sister’s account of the shooting is consistent with the office’s preliminarily assessment that it may have been a tragic mistake.
The state’s attorney’s office is continuing to investigate with the police to “piece together what happened,” said spokesman John Erzen.“We will determine what, if any charges are appropriate.” The state’s attorney’s office is continuing to investigate with police to “piece together what happened,” said a spokesman for the office, John Erzen. “We will determine what, if any, charges are appropriate.”
Mark Brady, a spokesman for the fire department, said rescuers announced themselves loudly three times and knocked repeatedly at the door before trying to enter.Mark Brady, a spokesman for the fire department, said rescuers announced themselves loudly three times and knocked repeatedly at the door before trying to enter.
Brady said the rescuers made the decision not to wait for police to arrive because they “felt compelled that there could be a medical emergency going on” and “had to enter the house as soon as possible.”Brady said the rescuers made the decision not to wait for police to arrive because they “felt compelled that there could be a medical emergency going on” and “had to enter the house as soon as possible.”
Shots were fired in their direction as they tried to get in, authorities said.Shots were fired in their direction as they tried to get in, authorities said.
Authorities identified the wounded firefighter as Kevin Swain, 19, a volunteer at the Morningside station. They said he had been shot four times and underwent surgery at Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore. He is expected to survive, they said. Officials identified the wounded firefighter as Kevin Swain, 19, a volunteer at the Morningside station. They said he had been shot four times and underwent surgery at the University of Maryland Medical Center’s Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore. He is expected to survive, they said.
The injured brother was shot in the shoulder and was listed in fair condition at a local hospital, officials said. They did not identify either brother by name. The injured brother was shot in the shoulder and was listed in fair condition at a hospital, officials said. They did not identify either brother by name.
On Saturday, as police continued their investigation, family members and colleagues mourned the death of the one firefighter and prayed for the recovery of the other. At Ulmschneider’s station in Landover Hills, they draped black bunting over the firehouse and along the hood of an ambulance parked on the lawn. On Saturday, as police continued their investigation, family members and colleagues mourned the death of one firefighter and prayed for the recovery of the other. At Ulmschneider’s station in Landover Hills, they draped black bunting over the firehouse and along the hood of an ambulance parked on the lawn.
Ulmschneider, 37, had been in the department for 13 years, and was married and the father of a 2-year-old girl, officials said. Ulmschneider, 37, had been in the department for 13 years and was married and the father of a 2-year-old girl, officials said.
Ulmschneider worked at several fire departments to pick up overtime. On Friday night, fire officials said, he was on assignment with the Forestville Fire/EMS station, but he typically worked at the Landover Hills Fire/EMS station. Ulmschneider worked at several fire departments to pick up overtime. On Friday night, fire officials said, he was on assignment with the Forestville Fire-EMS station, but he typically worked at the Landover Hills Fire-EMS station.
In a statement, Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker III called Ulmschneider “a dependable family man who loved serving this county as both a firefighter and paramedic.” In a statement, Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker III (D) called Ulmschneider “a dependable family man who loved serving this county as both a firefighter and paramedic.”
Fenit Nirappil, Rachel Weiner and Lori Aratani contributed to this report.Fenit Nirappil, Rachel Weiner and Lori Aratani contributed to this report.