Vidal Max Fortuna, 47, was a Stockton fire captain with more than 21 years on the department when he was shot and killed on January 31, 2022. He was responding to an early-morning fire and was attempting to gain access to a building to stop the blaze from spreading when he was shot. Fortuna was taken to a nearby hospital but died of his injuries.

Fortuna was known in the community for coaching youth sports and playing bass in his church ministry. The man arrested in connection with the shooting was identified as Robert Somerville, 67, who owned the business near the fire and said he believed Fortuna was a burglar because of prior break-ins at the property. Somerville was booked into the San Joaquin County Jail on homicide charges.

What can readers who lived in Stockton or who knew Captain Fortuna or the property share about that night or about Fortuna’s work and community involvement?