A New York City firefighter was shot Friday morning in Staten Island when responding to a blaze caused as result of a standoff between authorities and an ex-con.
FDNY Lt. James Hayes was responding to a report of a smoke condition at 6 a.m. caused by Garland Tyree, 38, after U.S. Marshals tried to serve him an arrest warrant, police said in a news conference, according to PIX 11.
When Hayes and other firefighters arrived on the scene, Tyree began to open fire. Hayes was struck in the right buttocks and left calf, and was rushed to Richmond University Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.
Shortly after firing, Tyree posted "Today I die" on Facebook, which possibly explains why he remained inside the building after setting it on fire and shooting at authorities: he would rather die than go to prison.
