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Vidal 'Max' Fortuna: California firefighter, 47, fatally shot dead during fire rescue

Vidal Max Fortuna was extinguishing a dumpster fire when he was shot dead by a Californian businessman

STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA: A long-serving firefighter, Vidal Max Fortuna, was fatally shot early on the morning of January 31, Monday, while he was trying to put out a blaze outside a building in Stockton. Max Fortuna, a captain with the Stockton Fire Department, was extinguishing a dumpster fire outside the building early in the morning at about 4.45 am when he was shot, according to Chief Richard Edwards, who made a statement regarding the incident.

Other firefighters at the scene rushed to aid Fortuna and took him to the hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Fortuna was a father of two children who are now adults. Fortuna had been a member of the fire department for 21 years. The suspected shooter, Robert Somerville, 67, was arrested soon after police arrived at the scene at about 5 am, CBS 13 reported. Somerville has been jailed on charges of weapons and homicide. The police department also posted a photo of the homicide weapon. 

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Stockton Police Department posted a tweet expressing their condolences over the sudden demise of one of their most trusted and loyal members of the fire department. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Stockton Fire Captain Vidal "Max" Fortuna, his family, and the entire Stockton Fire Department. Captain Fortuna was shot and killed this morning while putting out a fire. #InTheLineOfDuty", the tweet read. 

Police are investigating further into the matter. The accused, Somerville, was a California business owner. In one of his statements, he described the incident as a 'freak circumstance'.

"I would like to say that you know my family would like to send our condolences to the Fortuna family," Tre Somerville, son of Robert Somerville, said on Monday, CBS13 reported. "It’s very unfortunate what happened today, and it’s just a freak circumstance." The team of firefighters who had worked with Fortuna has reached out to the late firefighters family to lend help in these tough times for the family.