Fire officials say a first responder was shielding his wife from harm when he was killed during a tornado -- and he may not have even known it was her.

Because of the dark, stormy conditions, Laurel County Fire Department officials are unsure if he knew who he was saving.

Major Leslie Leatherman, a 39-year veteran of the Laurel County Fire Department, was tragically killed while responding to a fire alarm when the tornado touched down.