Video: Firefighters met with bullets at Northside home

Body camera footage released Wednesday shows a man firing shots at firefighters attempting to check on him on March 5.

No one was injured and Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters said the man will not face any charges.

“The homeowner thought that someone was trying to break into this home and he fired two shots," Deters said in a statement. "No one was injured and the homeowner was completely cooperative with the police and firefighters and explained why he fired the shots."

The prosecutor said firefighters and police are satisfied that this was a misunderstanding.

"This man is a Vietnam veteran who served our country and he is also battling a serious illness," Deters said. "Looking at all of the facts and circumstances of this matter, it would not be appropriate to seek any criminal charges.”

Cincinnati firefighters were called to assist police who also were responding to check on the man about 9:15 a.m. Sunday at a home in the 4200 block of Spring Grove Avenue.

Lt. Steve Saunders, police spokesman, said officers and firefighters were dispatched to the home after the man's friends were unable to get a hold of him. His friends were checking on him because he supposed to go to the VA Hospital for treatment.

When his friends arrived, Saunders said, the TV was on, but no one answered the door.

"Firefighters had to force entry into the property to locate the patient and at that time, gunshots were fired towards fire(fighters)," said District Fire Chief Mike Washington.

Police already at the scene then "neutralized the situation quickly, apprehending the shooter," according to a release from the Cincinnati fire department.

The man at the home Sunday identified himself as Kenneth Mullins and said he was the shooter.

He said he thought someone was breaking in.

Mullins said he didn't hear anyone until that forced entry was made, and that's when he got his gun.

No one was hurt.

Reginald Hocker, vice president of the union that represents Cincinnati's firefighters, said the incident was a misunderstanding.

"It was just an unfortunate incident as far as I know," he said. "I don't think that the gentleman was actually was trying to kill firefighters."

Washington added: "Around the country, this situation has occurred in the past with other fire departments. Today was no different. There are inherent dangers anytime you're forcing into property."

Officials with both the Cincinnati police and fire departments are investigating.

The incident prompted the fire union to call for more safety measures for firefighters.

Hocker says they need updated bulletproof vests for all of the city's firehouses.

New bulletproof vests are in Downtown firehouses, but not all locations are equipped.

"The protection that we have isn't throughout the city," he said.

Union leaders said they plan to meet with fire administrators to discuss Sunday's incident and how to prevent similar ones in the future.

Hocker says the union also plans to address what he calls outdated and hand-me-down bulletproof vests.