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Monday, Dec 24, 2012 7:17 PM UTC

Police: Firefighters in West New York were victims of a “trap”

"It does appear it was a trap," Police Chief Gerald Pickering said of the fire VIDEO

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Topics: Video, New York, Gun Violence, Shooting, Firefighters, Fire

Police: Firefighters in West New York were victims of a (Credit: Associated Press)

According to local officials, the two firefighters who were shot and killed while responding to a fire in West New York were the victims of a “trap,” the AP reports.

Local officials say the shooter was found dead at the scene, but did not say how he was killed.

From the AP:

The gunman fired at the firefighters when they arrived shortly after 5:30 a.m. at the blaze near the Lake Ontario shore in Webster, town Police Chief Gerald Pickering said. The first Webster police officer who arrived chased the suspect and exchanged gunfire with him, authorities said.

“It does appear it was a trap” for the first responders to the fire, Pickering said at a news conference.

“These people get up in the middle of the night to go put out fires; they don’t expect to be shot and killed,” Pickering said.

Here’s raw video footage of the fire, via the AP:

Jillian Rayfield is an Assistant News Editor for Salon, focusing on politics. Follow her on Twitter at @jillrayfield or email her at jrayfield@salon.com. More Jillian Rayfield.

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