Man Shot Two Maryland Firefighters, Not Charged

By Casey Harper

A man who allegedly fatally shot one Maryland firefighter and wounded another was released from police custody with no charges, police said Saturday.

A worried man called authorities Friday fearing his 61-year-old diabetic brother had a blackout or seizure inside the home, the Washington Post reports. When two Prince George’s County firefighters responded to the scene, no one answered the knocks on the door. Authorities said they tried forcing their way in to help, but both firefighters and the relative were shot.

One firefighter was killed and the other was hit four times, but survived. The alleged shooter’s brother took a shot to the shoulder that was not life-threatening. Police said Saturday the shooter has not been charged.

“There are so many moving parts, and we’re only a little over 24 hours in,” John Erzen, spokesman for the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Office, told WUSA9. “So we’re not at a point where we can definitely say that this happened or that happened.”

Erzen said the diabetic man may face charges in the future and could go before a grand jury. Whether the medical condition affected the alleged shooter’s judgement will be a factor in whether charges are brought.

John “Skillet” Ulmschneider, the fallen firefighter, leaves behind a wife and 2-year-old daughter. Kevin Swain, the 19-year-old injured volunteer firefighter, went into surgery after the shooting but is in stable condition. Police are still investigating and releasing information about the incident.

“This is a day that we have all dreaded in our minds,” the Prince George’s County Professional Fire Fighters and Paramedics Association said on Facebook. “We are keenly aware of the dangers of our profession but we have hoped that God would continue to watch over and protect our members. Now that tragedy has stricken us, we must stand strong and band together to support Skillet’s family and those who are closest to him.”

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