Tucson Medic Unit Shot During Transport

It began as a routine call for two Tucson Fire Department paramedics: transport an 80-year-old patient to St. Mary's hospital for medical problems. But on the way, their trip was interrupted by gunfire.

"The medic driving the truck reported seeing a flash, hearing a pop, and then the window shattering," explained Capt. Paul McDonough, with Tucson Fire Department.

The medic truck was heading west on W. Congress, in the area of Grande and Palomas Avenues, when the driver says the bullet hit his side window. The glass shattered, but remained in its frame, spiderwebbing around the bullet hole. The bullet penetrated the window about a foot from the paramedic's face, but no one was hit. The medic kept on driving.

"He was fulfilling his job obligation," said McDonough. "He did the right thing. He got the patient to the hospital."

In the end, the vehicle, with the patient and two paramedics inside, arrived safely at St. Mary's Hospital. But getting there nearly cost them their lives.

"In a situation like that, time is of the essence. And any delay to that can put the patient in jeopardy," McDonough said. "In this situation, the firefighters were also in jeopardy."

Police think the gunfire may have come from a parked car, on one of the nearby side streets off of W. Congress, just west of Grande Ave. It happened Tuesday night, January 24, shortly before 11:30pm.

If you have any information, call 911 or 88-CRIME.

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