Community Rallies Around Widow, 3 Daughters Of Slain Firefighter

AGUA DULCE, CA — As the community struggles to make sense of the deadly shooting at Los Angeles County Fire Department Station 81, thousands are showing their support for the widow and three daughters of the slain firefighter.

A GoFundMe page set up for the family of LA County Fire Engineer Tory Carlon had received more than $171,000 from 1,800 donors within a day of his death. The goal of the fundraiser is to come up with $200,000 to help support the young family as they grieve for their sudden loss.

Carlon, 44, died Tuesday when his fellow firefighter 45-year-old Jonathan Patrick Tatone arrived at the Agua Dulce fire station and opened fire, killing Carlon and wounding a 54-year-old Fire Captain. Tatone took his own life a short time later after setting fire to his home in Acton during a standoff with sheriff's deputies.

Carlon's brother, Brent, wrote on Facebook on Tuesday: "I don't post a lot of personal information on Facebook, but will everyone please keep our family in your prayers as my brother is the firefighter that was killed in the shooting in Agua Dulce today."

A family friend, Deborah Stilson, established the GoFundMe page to assist Carlon's wife, Heidi, and their three daughters.

"Everyone who knew Tory loved him," Stilson wrote on the page. "He was an extremely dedicated father and husband who brought a sense of calm to everyone. He absolutely loved being a firefighter and serving others. His family and friends are devastated by this loss."

The investigation into what prompted the shooting appears focused on an ongoing workplace dispute between Tatone and Carlon.

The coroner's office identified him Wednesday as 45-year-old Jonathan Patrick Tatone.

L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva, whose agency is handling the shooting investigation, declined to comment on details of the investigation late Wednesday morning.

But sheriff's homicide Lt. Brandon Dean told The Associated Press that preliminary interviews with station employees indicate there was "some workplace beef" between Carlon and Tatone. He did not elaborate other than to say, "It sounds like they didn't like each other."

The Los Angeles Times, citing two sources with knowledge of the situation, reported that there was an ongoing dispute between Carlon and the gunman. The sources told the Times the dispute was apparently over the way the station was run and maintained, and the pair had argued in the past about various issues.

Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered flags at the state Capitol lowered to half- staff in honor of Carlon.

"Together with all Californians, we mourn the tragic and senseless loss of a brave and dedicated firefighter and community leader whose selfless service will not be forgotten," Newsom said in a statement. "Jennifer and I send our deepest condolences to Firefighter Specialist Carlon's loved ones and colleagues. Our thoughts are also with the fire captain who was seriously injured in the shooting."

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report. GoFundMe is a Patch partner.