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Houston Fire Chief Samuel Peña led the Houston Fire Department (HFD) in mourning the death of Alabama firefighter Jordan Melton, who passed away on July 18 at the age of 28. CBS News reported that Melton was one of two Birmingham firefighters who were shot while on duty earlier this month.
“On behalf of the Houston Fire Department, our condolences and prayers for the family, friends, and colleagues of Birmingham firefighter Jordan Melton,” Peña said in a July 18 Twitter post.
According to the report from CBS News, Melton and his co-worker were shot at a Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service (BFRS) fire station in what authorities suspect was a targeted attack. Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin said in a statement obtained by CBS News that Melton was someone who loved to engage in discussions about sports and enjoy “good” barbecue. The mayor said Melton had been with BFRS for over a year and was a fresh graduate of the recruit academy.
CBS News reported that the other firefighter, identified as Jamel Jones, had been hospitalized in serious condition since the incident, but BFRS has yet to provide updates on his condition. Per a report from Birmingham NBC affiliate WVTM 13 News, Melton and Jones were performing routine morning maintenance at BFRS Station 9 on July 12 when an unknown individual opened fire on them. The shooter was allegedly at odds with one of the firefighters, both of whom were transported to University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Hospital following the shooting, WVTM reported.
The station reported that police haven’t made any arrests, and Crime Stoppers has offered a $15,000 reward for any information that could be beneficial to the Birmingham Police Department’s (BPD) investigation of the incident. According to WVTM, tipsters should contact Crime Stoppers at (205) 254-7777. BFRS’s Personnel Relations Committee is accepting donations to help the firefighters’ families, according to the report.