WACO (November 13, 2009)—Preliminary autopsy results released Friday show that the person whose badly burned body was recovered from the rubble after a fiery explosion was shot to death, but the results don’t confirm that the remains are those Waco firefighter Ramonell James, 55.

The autopsy lists the cause of death as a gunshot wound to the head.

Waco firefighters Friday were mourning what they fear is the loss of the veteran member of the Waco Fire Department as they awaited confirmation of the identity of the body, but in a statement issued Friday morning, the department said it suspects the remains are those of the veteran firefighter who worked for the department for more than 28 years.

“Ramonell was a good employee and his presence will be missed,” said Waco Fire Chief John Johnston.

“We ask that his family be remembered in your prayers.”

Johnson and James were close.

Both started as rookie firefighters in the early 1980s.

James was selfless, his coworkers said, and was heavily involved in charity work, especially the annual Food for Families Drive.

Johnston said firefighters will make an extra effort during this year’s food drive in James’ honor.

Firefighters found the body after putting out the fire, which was reported at around 10 p.m. Wednesday in the 200 block of MJR Road in rural McLennan County near Robinson.

Meanwhile, Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Chad Buenger who was responding to the fire Wednesday night found the burned man after stopping to check out a car that was parked sideways in the middle of the road near the intersection of South 3rd Street and Loop 340.

According to the trooper's report, which a DPS dispatcher read to a News 10 reporter, the man had visible burn injuries and told the trooper he had just come from the scene of the fire.

When the trooper asked if the man was armed, he said he was and the trooper recovered a weapon from the vehicle, the report said.

The report says the man told the trooper that he had shot a person at the house and then had set off the explosion.

McLennan County Sheriff Office Capt. Kenneth Vanek said the man was taken to Parkland Hospital in Dallas.

The DPS report identifies the man as Ramonell Stephens, 21.

Authorities said Thursday he’s the son of the firefighter whose house burned.

He remained in critical condition Friday at Parkland, a hospital spokesperson said.

Waco Fire Marshal Jerry Hawk, the city's lead arson investigator, is assisting the McLennan County Sheriff's Office with the fire investigation.