| Name: | Christopher Gottschalk |
| Gender: | Male |
| Agency: | Highland Park Fire Department |
| Type of Firefighter: | Career |
| Rank: | Firefighter |
| 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 Firefighter Christopher Gottschalk was awarded the Medal of Valor for his actions during the Highland Park parade shooting on July 4, 2022.
Firefighter Gottschalk was driving the Reserve Squad 33 in the parade with his family and others on board. After hearing radio traffic about the incident, Firefighter Gottschalk drove the families back to Station 33 where he gathered medical equipment before responding to the scene on Reserve Squad 33. At the active shooter scene, he assisted at the patient collection points, provided care to injured victims, and assisted victims in buildings around Port Clinton Square. Firefighter Gottschalk then assisted in covering deceased victims before being ordered back 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.