Junior Firefighter, 16, Shot Dead Inside Station

Pa. firefighter charged with criminal homicide
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 28, 2016 5:25 AM CST
Junior Firefighter, 16, Shot Dead Inside Station
The Redstone Township firehouse where the shooting took place.   (Republic Volunteer Fire Company)

Preparations inside a Pennsylvania firehouse for a "Light Up Night" parade on Sunday somehow ended up with a 16-year-old junior firefighter dead and a 21-year-old fire captain in jail. WPXI reports that George Matis Jr. was charged with criminal homicide and reckless endangerment in connection with the shooting of the Brownsville Area High School student. State police say they received a report around 4pm of a shooting inside the Redstone Township firehouse, where firefighters had been getting ready for the parade. The township is in Fayette County, around 45 miles south of Pittsburgh.

State police say the teenager, a volunteer with the Republic Volunteer Fire Department, was shot in the face after Matis pulled out a Glock inside the firehouse's business office, CBS Pittsburgh reports. The teenager was pronounced dead at the scene. Area residents, including the teen's classmates, rushed to the station to pay their respects after news of the incident spread. The parade was canceled, and a procession of fire vehicles escorted the dead teen's body from the station. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that Matis is being held without bail in the county jail and a preliminary hearing will be held Dec. 7. (More Pennsylvania stories.)

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