And we start tonight with the shooting
death of a Stockton fire captain.
This is Max Fortuna. He served
the city for more than 20 years.
He tragically lost his life today
after being shot and killed,
responding to a fire. Good evening.
Thanks for joining us. I'm Madison, Wade
and I am Chris Thomas.
Here's what we know in just the last
few hours a suspect was arrested.
67 year old Robert Somerville is now
behind bars in connection to the
shooting death of Captain Fortuna.
He's now facing homicide and weapons charges.
A gun was found at the scene.
According to Stockton Fire,
a 911 call came in for a dumpster
fire around 4:45 this morning as
firefighters were working to put it out,
gunshots were heard.
And a somber procession was led by
Stockton police motorcycle officers today.
They escorted a hearse carrying fortunas
body from San Joaquin General Hospital,
the Stockton Fire Chief,
calling today his worst nightmare.
A very, very sad day for his department.
I ask you to keep Captain Fortuna's family.
And the Stockton Fire Fire Department
family and your thoughts and
prayers during this difficult time
and new. At 11 ABC 10s Van two has
a look at the tributes underway.
Well, first responders are public servants,
and those who knew Captain Fortuna said
he had the heart of a servant dedicated
to his profession and the church.
Tonight, firefighters across the region
stepping in to ensure his community
remains protected as his family mourns.
A moment of silence
outside Stockton Firehouse.
#2 Modesto firefighters gave a salute
and lowered the American flag as night
fell 12 hours after Captain Vidal.
Max Fortuna was shot and killed
while putting out a fire.
Today is a good representation
that the type of person that Max
was Max was a was a firefighter
who showed up every day and never
complained about being on the job.
Fortuna, a 21 year veteran of
the Stockton Fire Department,
is also mourned at the Big
Valley Grace Community Church.
In Modesto, he played bass guitar
at the ministry known for his
love for worship music and his
unwavering dedication to firefighting
being a firefighter. You're a
firefighter and a brother for life.
Retired firefighter Robert McDonald
stopped by the Firehouse to pay his
respects as Stockton firefighters mourn,
outside, agencies are stepping in to
ensure Fortunas and the department's
duties were not left unfilled.
It means everything to our
community and you know it.
They just came.
They came when needed.
They came and called firefighters from
Modesto, Lodi, Tracy Lathrop Hayward,
Elk Grove and Sacramento.
Are answering calls of service in
Stockton as their firefighters mourn
the tragic loss Furtuna leaving
behind a wife and two adult children?
It's heartbreaking.
I've never seen anything like
this happen. I just wonder what's
going on in the world anymore.
How can people be like
this and public memorial
events for Captain Fortuna are still
in the planning stages? Will update
you as soon as those dates are set.
New tonight, a fundraiser has been
set up for fallen Captain Max Fortuna.
It was created through the
local firefighters union.
More than $28,000 has already been
raised tonight and we have a link
to the site on abc10.com/links
and tonight. Firefighters across
the country are remembering the
veteran Stockton Fire captain,
many pointing out safety,
is a major concern.
January has already been a deadly
month for crews across America.
One South Carolina crew pointing out on
Facebook tonight that 8 firefighters.
Lost their life this month.
You see some of their names here.
Captain Max Fortuna was the only
one to lose his life to a crime.
Multiple gunshots in the
back door. We have one kid
new at 11 police dispatch audio
reveals a chaotic and dramatic scene
and 93 units here now
yeah, PD in an ambulance and now
absolute shock and outrage.
After a beloved Stockton Fire
Department captain is shot and killed.
One thing that I know about
Stockton is that when we experience
difficult times in crisis,
we always rally together and
we get through it together.
Mayor Kevin Lincoln talking
with ABC 10 about the tragedy.
Calling Captain Max Fortuna. A hero
who's out just doing his job and loses
his life and your message to the
community is make sure that they're
giving back and thinking of those men
and women who go out there and put
their life on the line every day.
Yes, absolutely. And as a city we're
going to do everything that we can
and within our power to make sure
that our Stockton firefighters and
that the Fortuna family is supported
as the Community struggles to
make sense of the shooting.
Mayor Lincoln insists Stockton
is a safe place, saying the
city has seen a 30% reduction
in homicides over the past year
and we're one of three cities in California,
big cities in California that actually
saw a reduction. In homicides,
but one life loss in Stockton as a
result of gun violence is when too many
the immediate focus. The mayor says,
helping the Fortuna family
and the Stockton firefighters.
Now dealing with this heartbreaking loss,
we want to make sure that our stuck in
the fire department receives the grief
support in the time that they need
to get through this tragic situation.
And we continue to follow this developing
story after the death of Captain Fortuna,
be sure to stay with ABC 10 for updates
on air and online at abc10.com.