A firefighter who was shot dead by a ‘disgruntled’ co-worker at a Santa Clarita fire station has been named as 44-year-old veteran of the department.
Tory Carlon, a married father-of-one, was mourned by friends and family last night after the shooter, who has not been identified, stormed into Fire Station 81 in Agua Dulce and opened fire on Tuesday morning.
The killer also wounded a 54-year-old fire captain before driving home, barricading himself inside, setting his house on fire and then turning the gun on himself.
Carlon’s father Larry posted on Facebook: ‘Today we lost out beautiful Son, Tory Carlon, 21 year LA county Fire Fighter Specialist to a crazed Fire Department Worker. His family will never be able to replace him, and we enjoyed his life of 44 years. May he RIP forever in Gods Hands.’
A vigil was held in Acton Park close to the fire station last night for Carlon attended by hundreds of friends, colleagues and family members.
‘He was a brave, committed, loyal member of our department,’ county Fire Chief Daryl Osby said, according to KABC.
The wounded captain, who was shot multiple times, was airlifted to Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital in Valencia where he underwent surgery and is reportedly in a critical but stable condition.
No motive has yet been established, with Chief Osby saying of the shooter: ‘He was not scheduled to work today. He came back and confronted the on-duty personnel.
‘I cannot speak to the mindset of the shooter. I can say that it’s very tragic and sad that that would be a decision point of one of the members of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.’
After the horrifying attack the shooter drove ten miles to his home in Acton where he barricaded himself inside and set the building alight.
Cops found the gunman’s body floating in an empty pool outside the burning property with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said.
Tory Carlon, a married father-of-one, was mourned by friends and family last night after the shooter, who has not been identified, stormed into Fire Station 81 in Agua Dulce and opened fire on Tuesday morning.
Carlon’s father Larry posted on Facebook: ‘Today we lost out beautiful Son, Tory Carlon, 21 year LA county Fire Fighter Specialist to a crazed Fire Department Worker. His family will never be able to replace him, and we enjoyed his life of 44 years. May he RIP forever in Gods Hands.’
The shooter drove ten miles to his home where he barricaded himself inside then set the property on fire
The gunman drove to this home – believed to be his – in Acton then set it on fire.
A relative of slain firefighter Tory Carlon shared this last photograph with her ‘baby brother’
An emotional Osby told reporters: ‘When I received the news it was some of the worst news I’ve heard in my career.
‘As a fire chief, I have dealt with a lot of death, and a lot of fallen members of my department. I’ve always prayed that we would never have a line of duty death. I never thought that if it occurred it would occur in this fashion.’
Carlon was a 21-year veteran of the fire department, and was married with a son, the chief revealed. He was described as ‘truly dedicated’ to his role.
All the firefighters worked at the small station in Agua Dulce, a rural community of about 3,000 people in the desert of northern Los Angeles County known for its rock formations and panoramic views.
The home which was set on fire is registered to a 45-year-old California man, but it’s unclear if that man lives in the property or rents it out.
The Los Angeles Times said the owner is a veteran firefighter, but police have not confirmed that. Records indicate it was sold in July.
There is no indication that anyone else was inside when it was set on fire.
The shooter opened fire at 10.55am on Tuesday at the fire station, then he drove 10 miles to his home. He set it on fire then shot himself
Medics rush a firefighter who was shot multiple times but survived onto an air ambulance
An emotional LA County fire chief Daryl Osby described the shooting as some of the worst news he had ever received in his career
A helicopter was brought in to help extinguish the house blaze
In a tweet on Tuesday shortly after noon, the fire department said: ‘It is with heavy hearts that the LACoFD confirms that a tragic shooting occurred at approximately 10:55 a.m. today at FS 81 in Agua Dulce.
‘The Dept. is still in the process of gathering additional information & are cooperating with law enforcement throughout this ongoing incident.
‘We will provide updated information when available.’
Neighbors told local outlets they weren’t familiar with who lives in the home and that it recently sold.
Locals watched black smoke pouring from the burned house in the nearby community of Acton, a dry, hilly area dotted with ranches with horses and other livestock.
The fire burned for hours, gutting the home, with helicopters making multiple water drops to douse it.
Michael May, 70, lives down the road and said he was sitting in his living room when he heard the buzz of helicopters flying low.
Police at the scene of Fire Station 81 on Tuesday after a gunman opened fire, killing one firefighter and injuring another, before fleeing
‘Around here, that usually means a fire,’ he said.
He saw a swarm of police cars racing up the street, and deputies emerged wearing bulletproof vests.
May has been a resident of the community for 23 years but didn´t know who lived at the gutted home. He said many people in law enforcement live in the area, as well as some in the film industry.
‘It´s a place people want to go for peace and quiet,’ he said.
Brian Dalrymple, 79, lives across the street from May and said he thought the burned home had been sold recently.
He and his wife went outside to see the thick smoke, initially concerned the flames might spread to their home. Dalrymple said he never heard gunshots but saw deputies rushing up to the property, long guns in hand.
He said a friend called to tell them the news.
‘We didn´t know what she was talking about,’ Dalrymple said. ‘It´s usually pretty peaceful out here.’