'He was a true unsung hero': Racine firefighter murdered inside his home

RACINE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A Racine firefighter was found dead Sunday, Feb 20. His death is being investigated as a homicide. 

Fifty-year-old Christopher Lalor was murdered in his own home near Pinehurst and Spruce in Racine. The 911 call came in just before noon on Sunday. Police say his mother found him.

"There is nothing that indicated this is something you can expect. This is not the man that lived the life that you would expect violence to visit upon him," said Racine Police Chief Maurice Robinson.

Lalor was a member of the Racine Fire Department for 21 years. He was a driver/operator. The flag at his station is at half-staff. 

"Chris was a huge asset to the fire department, it's going to be a huge loss. We're not going to be able to fix," Racine Fire Department Lt. Tim O' Brien said.

Lalor was born and raised in Racine. The community meant the world to him. 

"He cared about the community, he wanted to do a good job so he always did," Racine Fire Department Assistant Fire Chief Brian Wolf said. 

Lalor's co-workers call him a true unsung hero.

"Because of what he did without asking for any kind of gratitude or thank you," said Racine Fire Department Cpt. Ed Benson. 

The department has taken some heavy losses over the last year-and-a-half. Lalor's death has added more pain.

"You never forget, you know, it's going to be a tough loss, there's not going to be a day that goes by we're not going to think of him," Chief Wolf said. 

As Racine investigators work to find out who killed Lalor and why, his co-workers and friends are left to cope.

"It's going to take time, it's going to take a long time," O' Brien said. 

During a press conference on Tuesday, Feb 22, police did not release any details about how Lalor was killed. However, they say they have some promising leads.