Honoring

Firefighter Sander Schultz

The Gloucester Fire Department, Massachusetts

EOW: March 30, 2024 | Age: None | Tour: None

GLOUCESTER — It is with heavy hearts that Mayor Greg Verga and Fire Chief Eric Smith announce the passing of Firefighter Sander Schultz. He was 57 years old. Firefighter Schultz passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, March 30. He was a 26-year veteran of the Gloucester Fire Department. Firefighter Schultz held the position of EMS Coordinator for many years before he went back on the line as the Engine 2 driver in West Gloucester. Flags have been ordered to be flown at half-staff to honor Firefigher Schultz for decades of service to the Gloucester community.

Honoring

Detective First Grade Jonathan Diller

New York City Police Department, New York

EOW: April 25, 2024 | Age: 31 | Tour: 3 Years

Detective First Grade Jonathan Diller was shot and killed during a traffic stop near 19-19 Mott Avenue in the Far Rockaway area of New York City. At 5:50 p.m., Detective Diller and his partner approached a vehicle that was stopped in front of a bus stop. Despite being asked numerous times to exit the vehicle, the subject refused. He pulled out a gun and shot Detective Diller in the stomach, striking him under his vest. Detective Diller was able to get the gun away from the subject, and his partner wounded the suspect. Detective Diller was transported to Jamaica Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds. The subject, who had an extensive criminal record, was taken to Jamaica Hospital and is in stable condition. Detective Diller had served with the New York City Police Department for three years and was assigned to Patrol Borough Queens South Community Response Team. He is survived by his wife and one-year-old son. He was posthumously promoted to Detective First Grade and given a new shield number, 110, which is his son's birthday.

Honoring

Deputy Chief Craig M. Konkle

South Bound Brook Fire Department, New Jersey

EOW: March 23, 2024 | Age: 54 | Tour: None

Firefighters in South Bound Brook are mourning the loss of one of their officers. Deputy Fire Chief Craig M. Konkle, 54, died hours after he responded to a wreck with fellow firefighters, according to My Central Jersey. Konkle had been with the department since 2013.

Honoring

Agent Eliezer Ramos-Velez

Puerto Rico Police Department, Puerto Rico

EOW: March 29, 2024 | Age: 35 | Tour: 12 Years

Agent Eliezer Ramos-Velez was shot and killed while following several off-road vehicles whose riders had been shooting guns in the air and at passing cars along PR 26 at about 4:00 am. He was on his way home from his shift, driving his personal vehicle but still in uniform, when he witnessed the motorcycle and ATV riders shooting at vehicles as they drove along the highway. Agent Ramos-Velez radioed in the event and followed the vehicle along the highway and updated dispatchers as they turned into the Sabana Abajo Housing Project along Monserrate Avenue. After dispatchers received no additional radio contact from Agent Ramos-Velez, officers located his body in the driver's seat of his vehicle inside the housing complex. His service weapon and police radio had been stolen. The suspects remain at large. Agent Ramos-Velez had served with the Puerto Rico Police Department for 12 years. He is survived by his girlfriend and infant son.

Honoring

Deputy Sheriff Christina Musil

DeKalb County Sheriff's Office, Illinois

EOW: March 28, 2024 | Age: 35 | Tour: 9 Years

Deputy Sheriff Christina Musil was killed when her patrol car was struck by a commercial vehicle on Illinois 23 south of Perry Road at about 10:40 pm. She was parked on the shoulder of the roadway when the approaching vehicle struck the rear of the patrol car. She was transported to a local hospital where she succumbed to her injuries. Deputy Musil had served with the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office for five years and had served as a military police officer in the Illinois Army National Guard.

Honoring

Firefighter James C. Ward, Jr.

Virginia Department of Forestry

EOW: March 30, 2024 | Age: 49 | Tour: None

On Saturday, March 30, 2024, Firefighter James Ward, Jr. was at the scene of a three-acre wildfire in Virginia when he collapsed while working with a hand crew. CPR was initiated and Firefighter Ward was then transported to the Holston Valley Medical Center in Kingsport, Tennessee, where he was pronounced deceased. The fire was contained by Saturday evening.

Honoring

Captain Ronnie Metcalf

Lexington Fire Department, North Carolina

EOW: March 29, 2024 | Age: 53 | Tour: None

On March 26, 2024, Captain Ronnie Metcalf responded to the scene of a house fire. Upon arrival, fire and smoke were observed coming from the rear of the house. An interior fire attack was initiated to extinguish the fire. A few minutes later, an order to evacuate was issued. The crews evacuated the structure and reported one firefighter missing. Search teams reentered to locate and extricate Captain Metcalf. He was then treated by EMS personnel at the scene for burn injuries and was immediately transported by helicopter to the Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Hospital where he passed away on March 29, 2024.

Honoring

EMS Chastian McWhorter

Somerset-Pulaski County EMS, Kentucky

EOW: April 1, 2024 | Age: None | Tour: None

SOMERSET, Ky. — An ambulance driver and a patient in the vehicle were killed in a collision with a semi-truck Monday morning, according to Kentucky State Police. The crash happened around 9 a.m. at the intersection of Lexington Road (US-27) and Old Lexington Road in Garrard County. KSP said the semi-truck driver was traveling east on Old Lexington Road and made a left turn onto Lexington Road in front of a Somerset-Pulaski County ambulance traveling north on Lexington Road. The driver of the ambulance, 26-year-old Chastian McWhorter, of Albany, and a patient in the ambulance, 75-year-old Robert Caudill, of Nancy, were declared dead on scene by the Garrard County coroner, according to KSP. Another passenger in the ambulance was transported to the University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Honoring

Firefighter Michael "Mike Mike" Vinson

Clinton Fire Department, South Carolina

EOW: March 31, 2024 | Age: None | Tour: None

A Clinton firefighter died in a fire apparatus rollover crash Sunday. The crash happened on Highway 72 in Laurens County around 11 a.m. when Engine 1202 was responding to a call, and they collided with another vehicle. WYFF4.com reports that firefighter Michael "Mike Mike" Vinson was killed in the crash. He was pronounced dead at the scene, the Lauren County Coroner’s office told FoxCarolina.com. A firefighter was injured and taken to Spartanburg Medical Center with serious injuries, WSPA.com reported. The driver of the other vehicle was taken to the hospital. Their condition was not specified.