| Name: | Eloy Salazar |
| Gender: | Male |
| Agency: | Highland Park Fire Department |
| Type of Firefighter: | Career |
| Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Type of Duty: | Emergency medical care, Firefighting 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 Eloy Salazar was awarded the Medal of Valor for his actions during the Highland Park parade shooting on July 4, 2022.
Lieutenant Salazar was the Acting Battalion Chief during the Independence Day parade. After hearing a dispatch for a puncture wound, Lieutenant Salazar immediately recognized that something was wrong. He upgraded the response to bring additional personnel and equipment to the scene. Disregarding his personal safety, he established command in the hot zone, began triaging, and gave assignments to his personnel. He stayed in communication with Chief Schrage and focused on Operations as directed. Since the number of staff on the scene was limited, Lieutenant Salazar assisted in getting patients to collection points for ambulance transport. When ordered, he returned to Station 33 to meet with and brief the command staff.
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.