The shooting happened Thursday night on Sunset Boulevard, where a fire crew responded to a report of an unconscious man inside a van. According to the Valley Independent Investigative Team, which is investigating the shooting, firefighters breached the van to reach the man when he pulled out a gun and opened fire on the crew.

One firefighter was struck in the armpit. Fellow firefighters rushed their injured colleague to the hospital while Renton and Tukwila police officers who had raced to the scene shot the suspect inside the van. Another officer also used a nonlethal weapon on the suspect. The man died at the scene.

The fire authority said the injured firefighter is now recovering at home. In a social media post, the agency thanked the community for its support and reflected on the risks first responders face.

"We prepare every day to assist the community with any emergency need they may have, but when the emergency suddenly becomes the people purpose-built to address it, it hits differently," the post said. "It reminds us why we invest in and spend long hours training to have one of the best EMS systems in the world. That system, and the people who make it exceptional, came through for one of our own. We are extremely grateful. Thank you, Renton, for all of your kind words and positive energy."

The Valley Independent Investigative Team, a multi-agency group that examines shootings involving police officers, is leading the investigation into the incident. No further details about the suspect or the circumstances leading up to the shooting have been released.

The shooting has shaken a community that relies on its firefighters and paramedics to respond to emergencies, often in unpredictable and dangerous situations. The Renton Regional Fire Authority serves Renton and surrounding areas, and its crews are frequently among the first on the scene of medical calls and rescues.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Valley Independent Investigative Team.