The Houston (TX) Fire Department (HFD) reported that Arson Investigator Lemuel Bruce, 44, was shot and killed in the line of duty this morning, October 16, 2020, while conducting surveillance during an arson investigation. He is the first HFD Arson investigator to die in the line of duty.
Investigator Bruce began his career with HFD in 2003 and has been an investigator for five years. He has previously served out of HFD Fire Stations 77, 96, 46, 42, 64, 6 and 12.
Arrangements are pending.
According to www.click2houston.com, arson investigators had been looking into a string of car fires in the Timbergrove and Heights areas when the shootout occurred.
Officers arriving on scene reportedly found the suspect dead and Investigator Lemuel Bruce shot. He was transported and subsequently passed away.
CORRECTION (1:14 p.m. Eastern): A previous version of this story read that Investigator Bruce was shot while attempting to serve an arrest warrant.
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