| Name: | Brian McDonald |
| 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 Brian McDonald was awarded the Medal of Valor for his actions during the Highland Park parade shooting on July 4, 2022.
Firefighter McDonald was the Acting Lieutenant on Squad 34. While returning from a medical call, Firefighter McDonald and his partner, Firefighter Caruso, heard about a shooter in relation to a penetrating trauma call. Before being dispatched, Firefighters McDonald and Caruso were already on their way back to the scene. Without concern for his own safety, he immediately began to give care to a victim before moving them to an ambulance. They transported the patient to NorthShore Hospital in Evanston before returning to the scene, they were 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.