A captain is facing homicide charges in connection with the shooting death of a 16-year-old junior firefighter at the Republic Volunteer Fire Company in Redstone Twp. Sunday.
Parker Hess and George Matis Jr. were in an office area of the fire station when Matis "removed a Glock model 17.9 millimeter caliber pistol from a holster that he was wearing and caused the pistol to discharge a bullet in the direction of Hess," according to television station WTAE.
Hess, a sophomore at Brownsville Area High School, died at the scene after suffering a gunshot wound to the face.
Matis, 21, was charged with homicide, the Pennsylvania State Police said. He was identified as captain in the fire company by television station KDKA.
The incident happened while members of the fire company were preparing for the Light Up the Night holiday parade.
A message on the fire company's Facebook page posted around 5 p.m. said "Due to emergency. Light up night parade is cancelled."
"We are saddened to here of the loss of one of our students," Brownsville School District Superintendent Philip Savini said in a statement. "Our sympathies and support go out to the family."
Messages of support were left on the fire company's Facebook page from explorer posts in Georgia and New York Sunday evening.
Fire apparatus and police cars escorted Hess' body from the fire station to the coroner's office Sunday night.
The following poem was written by Hess' friend, Emily Behm:
"Fallen Falcon"~A Poem by Emily Behm (written for the family and friends of Parker Hess) <3
You were a junior firefighter
And future member of the army
Little did we know
His life would end so early
He was known to be sarcastic
And always joked around
He could make light of dark times
And turn any frown upside down
He cared about his family
And all of his friends, as well
Now, there is another tragedy
And more grief in which we’ll dwell
There are many Falcons with broken wings
Who are struggling to get up again and fly
Now he is one of the fallen Falcons
Who are with the Lord, up in the sky
You will be missed by so many
And we cannot believe you are gone
Rest in peace, Parker Hess,
Your memory will forever live on.
