| Name: | Peter Caruso |
| Gender: | Male |
| Agency: | Highland Park Fire Department |
| Type of Firefighter: | Career |
| Rank: | Firefighter |
| 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 Firefighter Peter Caruso was awarded the Medal of Valor for his actions during the Highland Park parade shooting on July 4, 2022.
Firefighter Caruso was assigned to Squad 34 during the Independence Day parade. While returning from a medical call, Firefighter Caruso and Firefighter McDonald overheard about a penetrating trauma call in relation to a shooter. Prior to being officially dispatched to the scene, Firefighter Caruso and Firefighter McDonald chose to respond to the scene and immediately began rendering care to victims. Firefighter Caruso assisted in loading a patient into the ambulance. He continued to care for additional patients, assisting them into ambulances. Firefighter Caruso was then ordered to leave the hot zone and return to Station 33.
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.