By Teresa Woodard and Jeff Bernthal

(KTVI - myFOXstl.com)  --  A St. Louis firefighter was shot and killed Wednesday by a man on a carjacking spree in North County.  County police say the firefighter was an innocent victim just trying to render aid at what he thought was an accident scene.  Police killed the suspect after a pursuit and more gunfire.

Firefighter Leonard Riggins was on his way home from work, still dressed in his uniform, when he saw a car crashed in a ditch in his neighborhood.

The car belonged to Nicara and Moszell Kent.  They were in the car with their 11 year old son and four year old daughter, when the suspect stole the car from them at gunpoint in their driveway.

"He pulled his gun and was telling my husband to get out of the car.  My husband told me to get out of the car and I got out," says Nicara.  

"He didn't really put the point the gun at me, he was waving it in the air and was like, 'I need to get this car.  I need to get out of here,'" says Moszell.   

The Kents were calling 911 to report the carjacking when they heard the crash and gunshots.  Moszell ran to the scene and saw Riggins lying on the ground on Spring Gardens.  

"He was gasping for air," says Moszell.

Police say the suspect was in a stolen car, crashed it, stole the Kent's car and crashed it.  That is the accident Riggins saw.  When he approached the scene, police say the suspect shot him once in the chest.

The suspect stole Riggins car and drove to nearby Riverview Drive.  St. Louis County Police saw him near the Chain of Rocks Bridge.  He wrecked one more time and tried to steal a final car.  But when he fired at county officers, they shot him and killed him.

Police are not yet releasing the suspects name or age. 

If you'd like to help Firefighter Riggins family, the Backstoppers organization will be working with them.  You can visit the Backstoppers Website for more information or call 314-692-0200.

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Firefighter Leonard Riggings was shot and killed while attempting to assist a victim of a motor vehicle accident on Wednesday, November 5, 2008.

Firefighter Riggins was a 15 year veteran of the St. Louis Fire Department and worked at Fire Department Headquarters. Firefighter Riggins was off duty, in uniform, and was driving a staff vehicle when he came upon the accident.  Unknown to firefighter Riggins the accident was the end of a car jacking spree.  While approaching the scene, firefighter Riggins was shot once in the chest by the driver of the only vehicle involved in the accident.

Firefighter Riggins was personally known to many Monarch firefighters who are former St. Louis firefighters. Leonard was a kind and gentle person who would go out of his way to help others. The loss of Firefighter Riggins is not only a tragedy to the people that knew him, but the fire service as a whole. Our thoughts and prayers are with Leonard's family and our brothers and sisters of the St. Louis Fire Department.