| Name: | Albert Lopez |
| Gender: | Male |
| Agency: | Highland Park Fire Department |
| Type of Firefighter: | Career |
| Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Type of Duty: | Emergency medical care, Firefighting operations, Search and rescue operations |
| Type of Award: | Medal of Valor |
| Year of Award: | 2023 |
| Incident City: | Highland Park |
| Year of Incident: | 2022 |
| Incident Location Type: | Commercial |
| Incident Attribute: |
On July 4, 2022, at 10:14 a.m. a gunman opened fire on the Independence Day parade participants and attendees in downtown Highland Park, IL. The attack took place just 15 minutes after the parade began, seven people were killed, and 48 others were wounded.
The Highland Park Fire and Police Department took quick, life-saving actions to treat victims and safely evacuate attendees. Firefighters who were in the parade, assigned to work during the parade, and off-duty all immediately arrived at the scene to begin helping those in need.
The Highland Park Fire Department has continued to assist the city and its residents in recovery and resiliency since the incident.
Highland Park Lieutenant Albert Lopez was awarded the Medal of Valor for his actions during the Highland Park parade shooting on July 4, 2022.
Lieutenant Lopez was driving the Dive Rescue 34 in the parade, which was filled with fire department member families. After seeing Fire Department rigs turning around, he realized something was wrong. He dropped the families off at Station 33 and immediately jumped on Reserve Squad 33 alongside three off-duty firefighters who were attending the parade. He assisted with triage and locating victims who were in hiding before returning to Station 33. At Station 33, Lieutenant Lopez assisted in establishing companies and stayed to work through the remainder of his shift.
Citations:
Highland Park Fire Department
7th Person Dies Day After Highland Park Parade Mass Shooting.
NBC Chicago, www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/7th-person-dies-day-after-highland-park-parade-mass-shooting/2873971.