Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue worker killed in suspected murder-suicide
FORT LAUDERDALE -- Police are investigating what they believe is a murder-suicide at a home in Fort Lauderdale.
Investigators have identified the slain woman as Gwen Bass-Kemp, 70, an employee with Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue.
Officials said the man who barricaded himself in the residence before exiting and killing himself was Richard McDonald, 70. Investigators have not publicly identified the nature of their relationship.
A motive for the killing remains under investigation, and officials said no shots were fired by police during the incident.
According to police, officers were called to a neighborhood near Sunrise Boulevard and Interstate 95 on Thursday around 8:30 p.m. after receiving a 911 call about a shooting.
When they arrived, police said McDonald refused to exit the home at 1701 NW 27th Terrace and set it on fire. He then came back outside with a gun and fatally shot himself.
Officials released the 911 call for help made by Bass-Kemp's son.
"I went to go visit my mom and I walked in on my mom's boyfriend and he sat there . . . he pulled out a gun on me," the son told the dispatcher. "He is a military veteran. I know he has a license to carry."
The son told the dispatcher he was forced to leave the home because of that.
The fire fully engulfed the home, and video released by Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue showed flames racing through the house.
"Our fire crews were on standby at a safe distance to make sure that the fire did not spread to any of the homes in the surrounding area. To make sure that it stayed confined to the home where the incident was taking place. Once the situation was determined to be safe, at that time our firefighters were able to make entry," said Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue's Steve Gollan.
When firefighters entered the charred home they found a woman's body. Gollan identified her as Gwen Bass-Kemp, 70, who worked as a billing specialist for Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue.
He said she joined the city in 2005, was a valued member of the team for 18 years, and will be greatly missed.
"Gwen's loss is tragic and unthinkable. She was a valued employee for nearly 20 years, and our colleagues are mourning her loss deeply. Our hearts go out to her family during this difficult time, and we ask that they be given the space and time to grieve," said City Manager Greg Chavarria in a statement.
The man who turned the gun on himself after exiting the home was identified as Richard McDonald, 70. Investigators have not said how they knew each other.
Bass-Kemp's cousin, Antoine Jones, said the woman was a beloved family figure.
"She meant a lot to the family. She meant love. She was good people," he said. "As a person, she was lovely. She was a good loving mother. I don't feel good. I don't believe this happened because she was such a good person. She was a damn good person. She would help you if she can."
Neighbors said the chaotic scene left them feeling uneasy.
"Scared 'cause this is crazy. It's like a war zone over here now," said Eassie Crawford.
She said crime is nothing new in her Fort Lauderdale neighborhood and last night tragedy struck again.
"This is crazy, may they rest in peace, that's all I can say," said Crawford.
She said the gunshots echoed through the neighborhood.
"I tell my grandkids anytime you hear gunshots around here lay on the ground and go in the house," said Crawford/
That's what she and other neighbors did. But it was hard for some not to go outside and see what was going on.
"I saw cops sitting right here on each corner with guns, and I saw this side of the house burning," said Jaiya Le
Le said she knew Bass-Kemp and McDonald.
"There's no reason that this could've happened to her in the first place, I don't understand what could've drove him to do something like this," said Le. "She's a very sweet person. Not rude, not disrespectful, none of that. She's a very sweet person."