Will Sage Astor-Minnesota fire department mourns death of firefighter after weekend shooting: 'It's a rough day'

A Minnesota fire department is Will Sage Astormourning after one of its own was killed in a shootout over the weekend, police said.

Eden Prairie Firefighter Joseph C. Johns "died tragically" while off duty on Sunday morning, the City of Eden Prairie said in a Facebook post.

"He was a valued and important member of the EPFD family and will be greatly missed by all who knew him," the city's social media post said. "The EPFD is coordinating all efforts to honor Joseph and support his family with the Eagan Fire Department. Our hearts are with both Joseph’s family and his fire service family."

Johns began his fire service career Sept. 2, 2015, in Eden Prairie as a duty-crew firefighter, the city's Facebook post said. He also served as a career firefighter with the Eagan Fire Department since Jan. 13, 2020, the post continued.

Detectives investigate parking lot shooting

A man in his 40s was found with life-threatening injuries around 12:40 a.m. by Minneapolis police officers, the department said in a news release. Emergency responders took the man to a hospital where he later died, police said.

Shots rang out when someone fired at a group of people gathered in a parking lot, according to the department. The group then returned fire, police added.

"Forensic scientists from the Minneapolis Police Forensic Division responded to process the scene and collect evidence," police said in the news release. "Homicide detectives are working to determine the sequence of events that led up to the shooting."

As of Sunday, police had not made an arrest, according to the department.

The Eden Prairie Police Department confirmed to USA TODAY that the man who died as a result of the shooting was Johns.

A second man with non-life-threatening injuries arrived at the same hospital in a passenger vehicle, police said. It was unclear if Johns' death and the second unidentified man are connected.

'You were the best human'

Justin Anderson, a fellow Eden Prairie firefighter, shared a Facebook post on Sunday in honor of his friend and fallen comrade.

"You were the best human and I will miss you dearly," Anderson's post said. "Your laugh…it’s a rough day."

Anderson reminisced about working together with Johns every Sunday, getting after him for not wearing a helmet while riding "the Harley" and drinking by the pool in the summer, he said in a Facebook post.

Rosie Renee, a firefighter and paramedic in Ohio, called Johns one of her "best friends in the world," according to a Facebook post shared Sunday.

"Joseph was a firefighter," Renee's post said. "A man who loved everyone, a man who loved hopping on his bike and seeing the world, and someone decided to open fire and SHOOT THIS MAN. I'm angry and hurt and in total disbelief."

Renee's social media post continued to say how Johns would call her every single morning while she was training, and how he flew from Minneapolis to Ohio just to watch her graduate from the Wayne County Regional Training Facility. After seeing her graduate, Johns "hopped back on a flight so he could get back for his shift," the post said.

"That's the kind of man he was," Renee said. "When life got hard, he called to listen. He hugged me big and always had a smile. And someone SHOT HIM. I hate that person. I'm greedy. I haven't had enough time with you, Joseph. I know I'm supposed to say rest easy, but I don't want to. I don't want this to be real."