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Someone ambushed and killed two MAST ambulance workers early today in Edwardsville as they returned to their station after answering a medical call. Police said they are seeking a suspect they have identified. They released no further information on the suspect. Katherine Malone, 30, a paramedic, and Tye Brown, 33, an emergency medical technician, were stationed at a fire station at 600 S. 110th St ., said Eric Dooley, a MAST spokesman. Shortly after midnight the two had returned from a call and a dispatcher tried unsuccessfully to contact them. The dispatcher tried to reach them by paging, then telephoning and by radio. There was no answer Firefighters, who no longer use that particular station, were asked to check on Malone and Brown and discovered their bodies. Kansas City, Kan. and Edwardsville police are making a joint investigation of the double homicide. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the TIPS Hotline at (816)- 474- TIPS (474-8477). Investigators believe the slayings were an “isolated incident” and not related to any of the calls Malone and Brown went on earlier Friday night. “I don't want people to panic thinking someone is out there committing random acts of violence,” Dooley said. He declined to say what investigators believe to be the motive in the killings. Malone and Brown were both residents of Shawnee and both were single, Dooley said. Malone had worked for Metropolitan Ambulance Services Trust for seven years. Brown was raised in Kansas City, Kan. Dooley said, and was with MAST for five years. Brown's family gathered with MAST officials this morning for help in dealing with their tragedy. He is survived by parents, a brother and a young daughter. Dooley said it was the first time MAST had an on-duty fatality, and he thinks the slayings were the first fatalities in the history of Kansas City area medical services. Flags at MAST facilities were flown at half-staff this morning. The ambulance service isn't contemplating any changes in procedure at this point, Dooley said. “There's nothing we could have done to prevent it,” he said. “It was a premeditated ambush. “Short of having an armed police officer with us all of the time, there's nothing we could have done. Their station is like their home, and they expect to be safe in their home.” Dooley said area emergency medical services had offered assistance if MAST needs personnel to fill gaps if workers decide they want to take time off. MAST has peer counselors and professionals meeting with its members to help them cope with the situation. So far none has decided to forgo working, Dooley said. “Everyone is doing an excellent job of what they do every day, which is helping people,” he said. |
