Long Beach Post photographer Thomas Cordova won first place in a national photography contest for his June spot news photo of firefighters embracing following the death of Capt. David Rosa.

(Winning photo pictured above.)

The National Press Photographers Association judges the best photographs each month from around the country. Cordova’s photo won first-place in the West region, then took first in the nationwide competition for the month of June.

The judges noted that the viewer could feel the loss in this photograph.

On the morning of June 25, Cordova and a reporter were out early in the morning to cover the closure of Community Hospital’s emergency department. The two were then redirected to the scene of a shooting at a senior retirement complex on Fourth Street and Atlantic Avenue, which occurred at about 4 a.m.

Cordova captured a touching scene of firefighters consoling each other at Linden Avenue and Fourth Street, near Covenant Manor senior apartments where the shooting happened. It was later announced that Rosa, a 17-year veteran of the department, had been killed.

Cordova said he knew the incident was serious when he saw a procession begin to form near St. Mary Medical Center, where Rosa was treated.

“It was a very emotional day,” Cordova said.

Police arrested Thomas Kim, 77, in Rosa’s shooting. However Kim died before he was able to stand trial.

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