AURORA | An unidentified 34-year-old man running from a burning Aurora home faces arson and attempted murder charges for allegedly shooting at an ambulance that rolled up to support firefighters, trying to extinguish the blaze.
Police and firefighters were called to the 4200 block of South Kittredge Street in south Aurora at about 3:30 p.m. to respond to a house fire.
Aurora Fire Rescue officials said a fire chief was first on the scene, saw smoke coming from a second-story bedroom window and ran in to look for occupants. He found no one but a dog and got it out of the house. It’s unclear where the man accused of shooting was at the time fire officials entered the home to search for occupants.
“Someone had also called and reported that a man ran out of the house that was on fire, holding a gun,” police said in a social media post.
While Aurora Fire and Rescue responders were trying to extinguish the blaze, a Falck ambulance arrived on the scene at the house, and the man opened fire.
“The round struck the front windshield and thankfully changed trajectory, not striking any of the three ambulance employees inside,” police said in an X post. “None of the firefighters were injured either.”
The man then apparently then ran from the scene.
“As officers were coming into the area, they spotted the suspect nearby,” police said. “After a brief standoff, the suspect was taken into custody after the use of 40mm less-lethal rounds.”
The man was taken to a hospital for treatment, apparently for injuries suffered from being fired at by police with the “less lethal” rounds.
“He is anticipated to be released from the hospital tomorrow and will be arrested for arson and two counts of attempted murder,” police said.
Firing a gun at EMS, Firefighters, Police should exclude less lethal rounds being used.