Michael and Jack used to play basketball near their homes on Bonnieview Street. Neighbors and friends told The Journal News that they were good kids and tight friends.

"Heaven got two all-stars too soon," said Daniel Seymour, Jack's uncle.

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In the line of duty

#LODD stands for line of duty death. It's used to describe the brave men and women who fall while serving their communities -- working to save others in times of need.

Russell Neary, 55, a lieutenant with the volunteer fire department in Easton, Connecticut, was killed Monday night while responding to a call, according to CNN affiliate CTNOW.com. Debris blocked his truck's route on Judd Road; he was working to clear a path when a tree limb struck him.

"It was a line of duty death," Easton Fire Chief James Girardi told NewsTimes.com. "It's the first one we've ever had. And we're not over the shock of it. His death is a tremendous loss to his family, our department and the community."

New York Police Department Officer Artur Kasprzak may have been off-duty on Monday night, but he was hard at work saving the lives of those in a house on Doty Avenue on Staten Island.

With flood water "surging" into his house, Kasprzak was able to shepherd six adults and a 1-year-old child into the attic, according to James Duffy, a police spokesman.

Around 7:30 p.m., he told one of the adults he was going back down to check the basement. When he didn't return, someone called 911.

"NYPD personnel from the Emergency Service and SCUBA units immediately responded to the residence using Zodiac boats and Jet Skis," the spokesman said, "but could not access the home due to down, electrified power lines in the water."

Officers discovered Kasprzak's body "unconscious and unresponsive" the next morning.

"My boyfriend was an amazing man," Kasprzak's girlfriend told HLN in a Facebook message. "He had a heart of gold. He always put others before himself. He was my everything. I am just too upset to speak. Just know that the world lost an amazing person with a huge heart. He will forever be missed."

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Trapped

At 7:38 Monday night, New Jersey's Mendham Township police received a 911 call about a car accident on North Gate Road.

Richard Everett was driving with his wife, Elizabeth, and two of their children when a 100-foot tall, 3-foot wide tree fell on the hood of their pickup. The Everetts were returning from the Blue Crest Riding Center in Long Valley, which they owned and operated.

By the time officers arrived, the children, 11 and 14, had managed to free themselves from the wreck. Their parents were still trapped inside.

Two passers-by stopped to help police officers as they worked to free the Everetts from the crushed cab. Soon after the fire department and first aid squad arrived to help.

Despite rescuers' best efforts, the couple died at the scene.

"My thoughts and prayers to the Everett family," @CoreyJett tweeted. "Horrible tragedy no one should ever go through. We're all with you in this terrible time RIP."

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