By Ashley Lisenby
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch
MAPLEWOOD, Mo. — A statue was dedicated in memory of a slain Maplewood firefighter Thursday night, the anniversary of his death.
Ryan Hummert was answering his first call as a Maplewood firefighter — what seemed like a routine vehicle fire — when a sniper began shooting at first responders on July 21, 2008. The gunman killed Hummert, 22, and wounded two police officers before eventually setting fire to his home and dying in the blaze.
The Maplewood community dedicated the statue at Ryan Hummert Memorial Park, two blocks north of Manchester on Sutton Boulevard.
“This memorial has been a passion by many to remember the sacrifice of this brave Firefighter/Paramedic who gave everything for his community,” the Metro West Fire Protection District wrote in a Facebook post promoting the event.
The firefighter was the son of former Maplewood Mayor Andy Hummert and Jackie Hummert.
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