The Associated Press

MAPLEWOOD, Mo. — The medical examiner in Missouri's St. Louis County has identified charred remains found at a burned house where a firefighter was killed as the body of the homeowner.

Dr. Mary Case says 52-year-old Mark Knobbe committed suicide by shooting himself in the head at his home in the St. Louis suburb of Maplewood.

Authorities on Tuesday recovered the charred remains from the rubble of a burned house from which a gunman may have ambushed emergency workers.

Investigators also found a long barrel that came from a rifle or shotgun, county police spokeswoman Tracy Panus said.

The barrel and apparent remains were found at the collapsed house, where a gunman was believed to have holed up Monday after shooting at emergency workers responding to a report of a burning pickup truck in the St. Louis suburb of Maplewood. One firefighter was killed and two police officers were wounded in the attack.

Panus noted that some witness statements indicated a person inside the house was seen lighting clothes on fire.

Meanwhile, the family of the man listed on St. Louis County property records as the owner of the house released a statement.

"We are deeply sorry for the loss of Maplewood firefighter Ryan Hummert. His death is a senseless tragedy, and we are praying for his family," the statement said.

The statement, identified as being from the family of Mark Knobbe, also expressed sorrow for the attack on two police officers, who survived. The statement said Knobbe had been estranged from the family for nearly a decade and had not spoken to them.

The family expressed shock and sadness, adding, "our hearts are truly with the families and friends" of the victims.

They said Knobbe was a 52-year-old Navy veteran whose tour of duty included submarine work. He was not married and had no children.

The scene at the house where a modest brick bungalow once stood was active all day Tuesday, with backhoes and cadaver dogs helping investigators piece together a narrative to explain an ambush from the home of a man no neighbor knew much about.

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Public records list the owner as Knobbe, who bought the home more than 10 years ago. Neighbors said he never spoke to anyone and always had his blinds pulled.