Pennsylvania

Armed Volunteer Firefighter Takes 4 Hostages in Montgomery County Firehouse

UPDATE: Police have identified the suspect as 25-year-old Paul Jordan. NEW DETAILS HERE


Police surrounded a Montgomery County firehouse for an hour Tuesday after a disgruntled volunteer firefighter -- kicked out of the company the day before -- came back with a gun and held four firefighters hostage in the basement.

The incident played out at La Mott Fire Company, No. 1 on Penrose Avenue in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania starting around 10:40 a.m.

"Before we received the call he did fire one shot into the wall," said Cheltenham Township Police Chief John Norris.

After the shot, some people ran from the building but four others remained. The ex-firefighter, who is believed to be around 30 years old, almost immediately released one hostage before hunkering down with the other three, said police.

Hostage negotiators got in contact with the yet-to-be-identified suspect by phone then in person after police cleared the ground floor of the building, said investigators.

After about one hour, officers in SWAT gear detained a man on the ground took him away from the scene.

"He gave up to the SWAT team without a fight, there were no problems," said Norris.

A short time later, police could be seen loading that person into a police van and that van driving off toward the police station on Old York Road.

"The main thing is nobody got hurt," said Norris.

The alleged gunman was a volunteer firefighter who'd been in an ongoing argument with the fire company that eventually led to his dismissal, said Norris. Investigators didn't elaborate on the reason for the dismissal.

Police took the accused man and four hostages in for questioning. Norris expects to charge the man after interviewing everyone involved.

Cheltenham Township Police blocked roads in the area as the situation played out. Police from nearby areas also responded to the scene as investigators urged people to avoid the area, which isn't far from a shopping center along Cheltenham Avenue and the Lynnewood Gardens apartments; and sits next to John Russell Park.

The La Mott fire company has been around since 1910. Firefighters there are responsible for protecting more than 2,100 people in their immediate area, which includes homes, two schools a major shopping mall, numerous churches and one major apartment complex, according to the fire company’s website. It’s one of five fire companies in Cheltenham Township.

“Historical La Mott” includes land inside the township that is outlined by Old York Road to the east, Penrose Avenue to the west, Beech Avenue to the North and Cheltenham Avenue to the south.

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