| Name: | Peter Goss |
| 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 Goss was awarded the Medal of Valor for his actions during the Highland Park parade shooting on July 4, 2022.
Firefighter Goss was the Acting Lieutenant on Engine 32 during the Independence Day parade. He knew something was wrong when he saw police officers running eastbound while a call for a penetrating wound came through simultaneously. Engine 32 immediately turned around to respond. Firefighter Goss was the first to arrive at the scene, he recognized the severity of the situation and that there were multiple victims. He upgraded the response through dispatch and the Acting Battalion Chief. Alongside Firefighter Mount, Firefighter Goss split up the scene geographically and began triaging. He recommended an EMS box alarm before enlisting civilian help to control bleeding, open airways, and apply triage tags. Firefighter Goss then helped move patients to collection points before returning to Station 33 when ordered.
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.