Crime Arson investigator fatally shot while probing string of fires in Texas

An arson investigator was shot and killed while probing a spate of fires in Texas, the Houston Fire Department has announced.

Lemuel “DJ” Bruce was one of six Houston Fire Department arson investigators performing surveillance in a Heights area neighborhood in the early hours of Friday morning, ABC 13 reported. Bruce, who also served as a Marine, spotted a vehicle matching the one of a suspect in the serial arson case just before 3:30 a.m.

President Trump's visit to the fire-ravaged West Coast renews climate fight

As Trump visits California Monday for a briefing on the forest fires that have charred millions of acres in that state along with Oregon and Washington, he is reigniting debate over the climate crisis as he insists a lack of forest management is to blame.For weeks, President Donald Trump was largely silent on the wildfires that have charred more than 3.3 million acres in California, triggered Oregon officials to prepare for a potential "mass fatality incident," and created apocalyptic orange skies and clouds raining ash that have drifted across cities throughout the West Coast.

Amid criminal investigations into the origin of many of the fires that have devastated communities in Washington, Oregon and California, a 36-year-old man with a history of radical activism has been arrested. She was booked for second degree arson , first degree arson and burglary.

An arson investigator writing a novel about a fireman-turned-firebug was charged with arson in a string of store fires and was named as a suspect in a fire he investigated , a 1990 Glendale fire that consumed 64 homes. The investigator , Capt.

Houston Fire Chief Samuel Peña told reporters Bruce followed the suspect while he waited for the rest of his team to arrive . At some point, he radioed for help, but it did not come on time.

When a second investigator did arrive on the scene, they found Bruce suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was rushed to the nearby Memorial Hermann Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

© Provided by New York Daily News Houston Fire Department Arson Investigator Lemuel “DJ” Bruce,

Houston Fire Department Arson Investigator Lemuel “DJ” Bruce,

Authorities found the suspect’s vehicle about a block away. Police said the shooter, identified as 30-year-old Joshua Delacerda, was dead inside from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. They have not officially linked him to the serial arson case but have since served a search warrant at his home.

The Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association shared a statement on their Facebook page, mourning the loss of Bruce.

“We mourn the line-of-duty loss of Lemuel Bruce, our friend and brother. Please keep Lemuel’s family, friends and arson unit in your thoughts and prayers," said HPFFA President Patrick “Marty” Lancton.

“Investigator Bruce leaves behind a loving family, including his wife, daughter and son, along with many friends and a long list of Houston firefighters who respected and enjoyed serving with him.”

Bruce began his career with the Houston Fire Department in 2003 and had been an investigator for five years.