PORTSMOUTH, Va. — Police said Donald Parker, 44, has been charged after two people, including a firefighter, were shot in Portsmouth on Monday night.
The Portsmouth Fire Department said crews were on Surry Street after they received a report of downed wires. When units arrived, someone opened fire.
One firefighter was shot, along with a second person who was not a firefighter. Officials said the firefighter was taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.
Justin Arnold, Deputy Fire Chief - Operations, said in an email the department expected the firefighter to be released from the hospital as early as Tuesday morning.
There was no word on the condition of the other person who was shot.
Police said Parker faces the following charges:
- Aggravated Malicious Wounding (2 counts)
- Use of a Firearm (2 counts)
- Firearm by Convicted Felon,
- Reckless Handling of a Firearm
Police said Parker is an 8-time convicted felon. He was out on bond for a Firearm by Felon charge at the time of the shooting. Parker was at Portsmouth County Jail Tuesday afternoon.
In addition to the shooting on Surry Street Monday night, Portsmouth police said someone else was shot in the 1000 block of Broad St. around 10:12 p.m. The location on Broad isn't far from the one on Surry.
Police said the man who was shot on Broad Street got to the hospital on his own. His injuries weren't life-threatening.
Tuesday, the International Association of Firefighters released a statement about the shooting:
Last night firefighters from Portsmouth Fire Department responded to a call for "Wires Down." This is a fairly routine call for service that our members respond to every shift. While the firefighters were operating on the scene an unrelated altercation between neighbors broke out and shots were fired injuring our firefighters. While this is still an active investigation by the Portsmouth Police Department, specific details are not currently available.
The wounded firefighter was quickly treated and transported by their crew to Sentara Norfolk General Emergency Room for further treatment.
This incident highlights the danger our members face every day when they put on their uniform and respond to calls. We ask that the Portsmouth community continue to pray for our injured firefighter and their family, as well as all our public safety officers who were working and involved in this very difficult incident.
We would like to thank our Brothers and Sisters from Norfolk Fire Department and Chesapeake Fire Department for their help and assistance, as well as the members of the Portsmouth Police Department and Norfolk Police Department.