A volunteer firefighter has been fired after posting Facebook comments praising Dylann Roof’s actions during the bible study shooting Wednesday in Charleston, S.C. that killed nine people.
In a comment on the Facebook page of a South Carolina newspaper, Kurtis Cook praised the actions of Roof, 21, at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church last week. The East Texas firefighter wrote that the gunman “needs to be praised for the good deed he has done.”
Cook’s Facebook posts caused controversy across social media sites, prompting many people to write comments and posts accusing Cook of being racist.
In response, the Mabank Fire Department started an investigation, reports KYTX.
The department released a statement Friday notifying the public that Cook had been released from his brigade and banned from the grounds.
GOING VIRAL: TX firefighter fired after #CharlestonShooting post #KurtisCook #Charleston http://t.co/68IzPQaXD0 pic.twitter.com/cmwVorhqKl
— 10 News (@WTSP10News) June 20, 2015
The statement read, “The Mabank Fire Department does not condone nor promote these type of actions or thoughts. On behalf of all members, the Mabank Fire Department offers our deeply apologies to all that were offended by his actions and comments.”
As of 1123 hrs, after an investigation in the allegations being made of Firefighter Kurtis Cook, the Mabank Fire…
Posted by Mabank Fire Department on Friday, June 19, 2015