BERKELEY, Calif. — A firefighter in Berkeley was grazed by a bullet after an elderly man reportedly open fire during a medical call Monday.
Crews responded to the house at about 1:45 a.m. after a Medic Alert device was activated by the 88-year-old man, according to KTVU.
While being tended to by firefighters, he began to resist their efforts and the fire department requested that police respond, authorities said.
SFGate.com reported that police were heading to the home when the man began firing from a handgun. Shortly after, a firefighter was grazed by a bullet and the fire crew ran from the home.
Officers took the man into custody after a brief standoff. His name was not immediately released and he was taken to a nearby hospital for an emergency psychiatric evauluation, according to SFGate.com.
The injured firefighter was treated at the scene and did not require hospitalization, said Officer Jennifer Coats, a Berkeley police spokeswoman.
“We are very grateful that the firefighter was not hurt more seriously,” Coats said.