2 Firefighters, 1 Civilian Shot After Explosion At California High-Rise
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LONG BEACH, Calif. (CBSLA) — Authorities say two firefighters and a civilian were shot while responding to an explosion and fire at a Long Beach, California high-rise for seniors and disabled persons.
Residents say they heard an explosion at the Covenant Manor, 600 E. 4th Street, in Long Beach at about 3:40 a.m. local time. The firefighters who were shot were part of the initial emergency response, and they have been taken to the hospital. One is in critical condition, and other suffered a non-life-threatening injury.
Long Beach police spokesman Sgt. Brad Johnson says they have someone in custody in connection with the shooting.
"We have one person that we believe is partially responsible and he is with investigators currently," Johnson said.
Police say officers responded to the scene as if it were an active-shooter situation, which also prompted activating SWAT, but that emphasized it was not in fact an active-shooter situation.
The SWAT team moved into the multi-story building just before 5 a.m. local time.
One resident said as he led a group of people out of the building, he saw a man sitting on the stairs between the third and second floor with a gun in his hand, looking at the gun. The group went back up and found another way out before telling police what they saw.
The resident said he was familiar with the man as a regular bicyclist in the area, but did not know his name.
Another resident said he heard the explosion, and saw where it took out a sliding door. He said he saw one of his neighbors had been shot.
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