Firefighters held hostage by one of their own at gunpoint inside the LaMott Fire Company yesterday morning now describe a frightening ordeal that may well have ended without injury because of the brotherhood they feel for each other, reports CBS Philadelphia.
Fire Company President Mark Logan says the firefighter, identified by Cheltenham Township Police as 25-year-old Paul Jordan, was distraught after being told he had been dismissed from the fire company.
Logan says he was among four firefighters ordered onto the floor by Jordan, who fired a shot into the wall, six inches away, telling his hostages, “Next time I won’t miss.”
“He could have killed us if he wanted to,” Logan explained. “It was an intentional miss.”
As Logan and fellow firefighters tried to reason with Jordan, a Lieutanant, who had a gun held to his head, darted out a door, made his way to the street and called 911.
Meanwhile, Logan says, as SWAT teams approached, Jordan, who was described as getting angrier and angrier, saying there was “no reason to live,” now began unloading his weapon.
Logan says he grabbed the gun, the firefighters then surrounding Jordan and hugging him. Then, as they are taught to do in firefighting, the hostages and the suspect made their way up the steps from the basement to where police were waiting.
Police say Jordan is now undergoing a mental health evaluation as police decide on whether criminal charges will be filed.
Meanwhile, Chief John Mulligan says his all-volunteer firefighters, who have been offered counseling, will return to service at 8 a.m. tomorrow.
Read more of the story here http://cbsloc.al/1DwFCvp
