The Dallas Morning News
PEORIA, Ariz. — One of two Dallas firefighters shot early Monday as they walked to their hotel from a Phoenix-area bar after the Super Bowl died Tuesday.
Charles Whitaker, 38, had suffered injuries to the leg, chest and head.
Dallas Fire-Rescue spokesman Paul Lara said Chief Eddie Burns had announced Mr. Whitaker’s death to his staff.
“Late this afternoon, he passed away,” Mr. Lara said.
Chief Burns could not be reached for comment late Tuesday.
The 14-year old department veteran was walking with his friend and fellow firefighter Reginald Cuington, 43, to their hotel in Peoria, Ariz., about 1 a.m. Monday when a white 1980s model Buick pulled up beside them and someone inside opened fire.
Mr. Cuington suffered a gunshot wound to the leg, police said.
“They were there for the Super Bowl,” said Mr. Lara. “The game was over, and they were headed on back to their room.”
Mr. Cuington is a 17-year veteran, a department official said.
Investigators were trying to determine whether the shooting was sparked by a fight earlier in the day.
“I think what we’re probably going to find out is that this occurred off of an altercation,” said Mike Tellef, a Peoria Police Department spokesman. “We just don’t know who they were in the altercation, what the altercation was, what led up to the shooting.”
Copyright 2008 The Dallas Morning News