Lieutenant Cowan was shot and killed after responding to a domestic violence call. As she was conducting a patient assessment of a female shooting victim who had been found in the front of the home, the patient's husband emerged from the house and shot Lieutenant Cowan. He then barricaded himself inside the house until removed by police six hours later.

Ms. Cowan was a 12-year member of the Lexington Division of Fire and Rescue Services. It was her first tour of duty after being formally promoted to Lieutenant.

See NIOSH report

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face200411.html