According to the The Patriot, the man believed to have killed a Long Beach Fire Captain was found dead in the hospital jail ward at Los Angeles County – USC Medical Center. You may recall that on June 25, 2018, Thomas Man Kim, age 77, allegedly shot Captain Dave Rosa, a Long Beach Fire Captain, who was responding to a purported explosion and fire at the Covenant Manor Senior Living Facility in the 600 block of East Fourth Street. Kim was a resident of the facility at the time of the explosion and fire.
Kim allegedly created the explosion to try to kill his neighbor with whom he allegedly was feuding. When the police and firefighters arrived, Kim became scared and began shooting at these first responders, killing Captain Rosa and injuring another firefighter who fortunately survived.
Kim reportedly had been undergoing chemotherapy for cancer and is believed to have succumbed to his cancer and a kidney disorder. He was found dead at about 3:20 a.m., Sunday, August 5, 2018.
This incident reminds us of the dangers facing our brave firefighters and police officers and sheriff deputies every day. When responding to a fire at a senior living facility, no first responder would be thinking that a 77 year old resident of the facility will be laying in wait to shoot him or her?
Captain Rosa was only 45. He was a 17 year veteran of the Long Beach Fire department. He was married and the father of two boys. Perhaps the most useful information now from all of this is that a fund has been established for the captain’s family and if you are interested please go to www.friendsoflbfire.org/police-fire-memorial.