New York City firefighter shot in Staten Island is father of 2; expected to survive

STATEN ISLAND (WABC) -- The New York City Firefighter shot in the line of duty in Staten Island Friday morning is expected to survive.

The FDNY said Lt. James Hayes, 53, was shot twice at the scene of a house fire in Mariner's Harbor. He was hit in the left calf and right buttock.

The 31-year veteran of the department responded to a call of a possible fire at the house.

According to Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro, Hayes apparently talked with the suspect, 38-year-old Garland Tyree. When Tyree stopped communicating, Hayes went inside. He was crawling on ground under smoke looking for survivors when shots were fired, hitting him twice.

When Hayes turned around and went past the bathroom where Tyree was hiding, more shots were fired at Hayes but missed him, Nigro said.

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Hayes was taken to Richmond University Medical Center, where he's in serious but stable condition. Nigro said Hayes is in good spirits, despite the situation.

The commissioner said it felt weird saying "you're lucky" after one of his own is shot on a fire scene, but he said it could have been worse.

Hayes is married with two children, lives on Staten Island and has four brothers in the department.

The suspect, Tyree, barricaded himself in the basement apartment for about hours before he died in a shootout with police.

This is the first time a New York City firefighter has been shot in the line of duty in 21 years.