NineseveN
member
Wow, glad you made it out alive, hope your buddy pulls through and they nail the SOB to the wall that did it.
Shooting at work today...
- Thread starter RKirby
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sparx
Member
+1. I worked so late last night that when I got home I ate some cereal and went to bed... never heard heard the details of the news until now. My prayers go out for all affected.
wingnutx
Member
I'm not being hard on them, just stating local policy. I'm a volunteeer EMT with PFD and do a lot of "staging" until we get the PD go ahead.
Now we don't even stage within sight of the scene, since some idiot got mad that we weren't going in fast enough and shot up a fire station.
Mannlicher
Member
Just glad you and the rest of your co workers are ok. The 'real world' can be a scary, and terrible place.
The shooter finally surrendered to the PD about 10:00pm last night. It seems he found a lenient judge and was able to post $200,000.00 bail and is now free pending trial. He claims the shooting was accidental.
:banghead: :banghead:Texfire
Member
I'm a firefighter so I feel confident in telling you what you did WAS what saved your coworker's life. From the wound you described you probably were controlling an arterial bleed that would have killed him, likely before medical care could get onscene. You were a vital part of the chain of events that saved his life, so give yourself a pat on the back.
I'm also going to second the suggestion to see counseling if your workplace doesn't provide it. While you say you have seen bad stuff before the personal component of this event will strip away that insulation. In the fire service we have CISD or Critical Incident Stress Debriefings after major events like traumatic death, injury of a coworker, or death of a child. Our service started providing CISD when we found we were burning out "hardened" responders by not providing a mechanism for them to blow off steam and address the stress these events raise.
Tex
I'm also going to second the suggestion to see counseling if your workplace doesn't provide it. While you say you have seen bad stuff before the personal component of this event will strip away that insulation. In the fire service we have CISD or Critical Incident Stress Debriefings after major events like traumatic death, injury of a coworker, or death of a child. Our service started providing CISD when we found we were burning out "hardened" responders by not providing a mechanism for them to blow off steam and address the stress these events raise.
Tex
gunsmith
member
RK, I'm glad you made it home
& I am praying for a speedy recovery of your friend.
I am soooo tempted to go into a tirade about the effectiveness
of workplace bans
& I am praying for a speedy recovery of your friend.
I am soooo tempted to go into a tirade about the effectiveness
of workplace bans
Monkeyleg
Member.
RKirby, while it sounds like you were pretty shaken up as these events unfolded, you acted with amazing clarity of purpose.
I hope your friend comes through this well. And he owes you, big time.
I hope your friend comes through this well. And he owes you, big time.
Fred Fuller
Moderator Emeritus
RAK,
You did very well, in a difficult situation. You remained observant and did not panic, and rendered effective aid to your injured coworker while maintaining the presence of mind to secure the scene as best you could against any further efforts of the shooter to cause further harm to his victim. Quite frankly that sort of thing requires courage, not a common attribute these days, and I think you are to be commended for your behavior.
As to the lingering images that persist in troubling you, those will unfortunately be with you a while. But they will get better over time, and be less intrusive. Thinking about how much worse it could have been had you not exercised good judgement might help some, and seeing your coworker on the road to recovery should help as well to replace those other images with more pleasant ones in your mind. By all means you should not rule out counseling if you feel that you need it to help put this traumatic incident behind you.
You did right, and you did good, and you should feel pride in yourself for facing this the way you did. I hope your coworker heals quickly and the shock passes soon for all of you.
Regards,
lpl/nc
You did very well, in a difficult situation. You remained observant and did not panic, and rendered effective aid to your injured coworker while maintaining the presence of mind to secure the scene as best you could against any further efforts of the shooter to cause further harm to his victim. Quite frankly that sort of thing requires courage, not a common attribute these days, and I think you are to be commended for your behavior.
As to the lingering images that persist in troubling you, those will unfortunately be with you a while. But they will get better over time, and be less intrusive. Thinking about how much worse it could have been had you not exercised good judgement might help some, and seeing your coworker on the road to recovery should help as well to replace those other images with more pleasant ones in your mind. By all means you should not rule out counseling if you feel that you need it to help put this traumatic incident behind you.
You did right, and you did good, and you should feel pride in yourself for facing this the way you did. I hope your coworker heals quickly and the shock passes soon for all of you.
Regards,
lpl/nc
Outlaws,
The newspaper article refers to the incident that I was involved in and posted about.
At the time I wrote the original three posts certain details, including names, had not been released to the press and were not disclosed in my posts. This might have confused you. If so, I apologize. My thoughts were with the victim and his family.
Dusty Rusty
Member
RKirby
Thank God you are OK and I hope the same goes for your co-worker. What you did makes you a hero, even if you don't feel that way right now. I agree with the others that you may want to go to a counseling session. I hope your company provides it but if they don't, seek help somewhere else. You may not realize it but the full impact of the event will hit later. It would be good to have a support group ready. Take care and remember, we are here for you. I'll keep you and your friends in my prayers.
Thank God you are OK and I hope the same goes for your co-worker. What you did makes you a hero, even if you don't feel that way right now. I agree with the others that you may want to go to a counseling session. I hope your company provides it but if they don't, seek help somewhere else. You may not realize it but the full impact of the event will hit later. It would be good to have a support group ready. Take care and remember, we are here for you. I'll keep you and your friends in my prayers.
AmbulanceDriver
Member
RKirby, first I'm very glad to hear you're doing ok, no one else was hurt, and that it sounds like your co-worker will survive this ordeal, hopefully without permanent damage.
I've also got to restate what TexFire said. Your actions definitely helped save your coworkers life. From what you described, the bullet definitely hit a major artery, likely the brachial, and with the rate of bleeding that you described, had you not kept that pressure on there he would have bled out in minutes. You definitely kept your wits about you, and reacted better than the majority of the population. And definitely, definitely, definitely, find a professional to talk to about what happened.
I've also got to restate what TexFire said. Your actions definitely helped save your coworkers life. From what you described, the bullet definitely hit a major artery, likely the brachial, and with the rate of bleeding that you described, had you not kept that pressure on there he would have bled out in minutes. You definitely kept your wits about you, and reacted better than the majority of the population. And definitely, definitely, definitely, find a professional to talk to about what happened.
Snake Eyes
Member
I am often stunned by the casual and cavalier statements made about shooting/killing people made on THR. Thank you very much for sharing this deeply personal information with us. I sincerely hope it is read over and over again.
With any luck at all, a few chairborne rangers might get the idea and develop a new respect for human life and the true impact of the loss of such.
update.....
First, before I go any farther I would like to publicly thank everyone who has posted, PM'ed and e-mailed your words of support and encouragement. You don't know how much this means to me. This kind of response is why The High Road is where I spend way too much of my free time. We have a very unique online community here and I'm proud you have allowed me to be a part of it. Thank you all very, very much.
...............................................................................................................................................................
Well, Friday was a difficult day.
I got to work about 5:00am as usual and went into the office where the shooting took place. Everything had been cleaned up and put back into place, just like nothing had ever happened, except for the brochure on reducing work place violence left by the Ft. Worth PD on one desk and an instruction sheet for a neck support collar left by an EMT on another desk. The FD had come back to retrieve the defibrillator they left behind in the confusion the day before.
Had to answer a lot of difficult questions. Made for a very long day.
Unbelievable how exhausted I was and I slept about 16 hours Friday night and Saturday morning. I can't tell you the last time I slept more than 8 hours. Getting up at 6 or 7am is sleeping late for me. I woke up about 10am Saturday and felt much better. Maybe the worst is behind us now.
I found out this morning that the victim, Sam, had been released from the hospital and is recovering at home. I talked to him on the phone a short time ago for the first time since the shooting. He sounds great and is in a good frame of mind. I was surprised that he remembers all the details of that day . That's amazing considering that he appeared to be going into shock immediately following the shooting. The fact that he is doing well is a major burden removed from my mind, and the world is a better place today.
To those of you that have recommended counseling, it is being arranged by my employer for those that were involved. I have swallowed my pride and agreed to participate.
To those of you that have referred to me as a hero, I thank you..but I'm not a hero. I only reacted to the situation the best I knew how. I never intended for this thread to bring attention to my actions as an individual. I only wanted to release the stress and emotions that were building to the breaking point.
I'm not the only one who was in that office during and immediately after the shooting. Every one there played a part in the way things turned out. One guy bear-hugged the shooter from behind and physically threw him out the office door before he could get off another shot, even though the shooter was a larger person than he.
He is the true hero of this situation in my eyes. But knowing him as I do, I don't think he'd want the "hero badge" pinned on him either.
I sincerely hope none of you ever have to go through what I and everyone else involved in this incident has been through. I never imagined the stress and emotions that one would have to bear. Now I understand why police and public safety officers are given mandatory time off after traumatic events.
I can only hope that if you are ever involved in a situation where you have to defend your life or help save the life of another person, some of what I have written and experienced will help you make it through it all.
First, before I go any farther I would like to publicly thank everyone who has posted, PM'ed and e-mailed your words of support and encouragement. You don't know how much this means to me. This kind of response is why The High Road is where I spend way too much of my free time. We have a very unique online community here and I'm proud you have allowed me to be a part of it. Thank you all very, very much.
...............................................................................................................................................................
Well, Friday was a difficult day.
I got to work about 5:00am as usual and went into the office where the shooting took place. Everything had been cleaned up and put back into place, just like nothing had ever happened, except for the brochure on reducing work place violence left by the Ft. Worth PD on one desk and an instruction sheet for a neck support collar left by an EMT on another desk. The FD had come back to retrieve the defibrillator they left behind in the confusion the day before.
Had to answer a lot of difficult questions. Made for a very long day.
Unbelievable how exhausted I was and I slept about 16 hours Friday night and Saturday morning. I can't tell you the last time I slept more than 8 hours. Getting up at 6 or 7am is sleeping late for me. I woke up about 10am Saturday and felt much better. Maybe the worst is behind us now.
I found out this morning that the victim, Sam, had been released from the hospital and is recovering at home. I talked to him on the phone a short time ago for the first time since the shooting. He sounds great and is in a good frame of mind. I was surprised that he remembers all the details of that day . That's amazing considering that he appeared to be going into shock immediately following the shooting. The fact that he is doing well is a major burden removed from my mind, and the world is a better place today.
To those of you that have recommended counseling, it is being arranged by my employer for those that were involved. I have swallowed my pride and agreed to participate.
To those of you that have referred to me as a hero, I thank you..but I'm not a hero. I only reacted to the situation the best I knew how. I never intended for this thread to bring attention to my actions as an individual. I only wanted to release the stress and emotions that were building to the breaking point.
I'm not the only one who was in that office during and immediately after the shooting. Every one there played a part in the way things turned out. One guy bear-hugged the shooter from behind and physically threw him out the office door before he could get off another shot, even though the shooter was a larger person than he.
He is the true hero of this situation in my eyes. But knowing him as I do, I don't think he'd want the "hero badge" pinned on him either.
I sincerely hope none of you ever have to go through what I and everyone else involved in this incident has been through. I never imagined the stress and emotions that one would have to bear. Now I understand why police and public safety officers are given mandatory time off after traumatic events.
I can only hope that if you are ever involved in a situation where you have to defend your life or help save the life of another person, some of what I have written and experienced will help you make it through it all.
cosine
Member
Glad to hear that everything sounds as if it is going very well. Also, thank you for having the courage and mental strength to share with us your difficult experience, in hope that we all may learn from it. 
U.S.SFC_RET
Member
Rkirby one of those little 22 short blanks will drive a nail into concrete with a nail gun. A 25 automatic (mouse gun) is deadly. You are a hero. You did the right thing in saving Sam's life. The Perp should get the justice he deserves and if he does not then he will answer to God almighty in the end. Everyone says to get counseling and I agree. 20 years in the Army tells me that if you don't you could pay for it later because it was a traumatic event for you. Get it out of your system professionally while it is still early good man. Sam is lucky to have a friend like you who didn't panic and haul A@@ outside. You did what good men do.
Black Majik
Member
Wow, an amazing but unfortunate story.
I just got around to reading the whole thing, I'm happy to hear yourself, your coworkers and your buddy is doing well after the whole ordeal. I can't even imagine what you all went through.
Good luck to you all and godspeed to your friend.
I just got around to reading the whole thing, I'm happy to hear yourself, your coworkers and your buddy is doing well after the whole ordeal. I can't even imagine what you all went through.
Good luck to you all and godspeed to your friend.
TCB in TN
Member
You did good!
+1 to all of the accolades. You deserve a huge pat on the back. I understand this situation. The company I used to work for also had a no fire arms policy, and after several situations with men trying to force their way in to the plant after their estranged wives, and threatening to come back and shoot the place up (also had 1 ex-wife threaten the same) I decided that my safety was worth more than the job. The door of the plant wasn't posted, only mention of the no guns policy was in the employee hand book. So I carried my little Keltec P32 for about 4 years before I quit working there to go back to school January 2005. The Keltec wasn't what I wanted to carry, but it beat the heck out of trying to throw my stapler at someone. I had my PT92 locked in the car, and I always felt that at least the P32 would give me a fighting chance to get to my car if I had to. If I had it to do again I would have carried something a little bigger (at least a 9mm). But just as you saw even a .25 cal can do a lot of damage, and as I have always said the pea shooter in the pocket always beats the cannon left in the car, especially in a situation like this. Again cudos to you for a taking care of your friend, and I hope that you can do what you need to be safe. God Bless!
+1 to all of the accolades. You deserve a huge pat on the back. I understand this situation. The company I used to work for also had a no fire arms policy, and after several situations with men trying to force their way in to the plant after their estranged wives, and threatening to come back and shoot the place up (also had 1 ex-wife threaten the same) I decided that my safety was worth more than the job. The door of the plant wasn't posted, only mention of the no guns policy was in the employee hand book. So I carried my little Keltec P32 for about 4 years before I quit working there to go back to school January 2005. The Keltec wasn't what I wanted to carry, but it beat the heck out of trying to throw my stapler at someone. I had my PT92 locked in the car, and I always felt that at least the P32 would give me a fighting chance to get to my car if I had to. If I had it to do again I would have carried something a little bigger (at least a 9mm). But just as you saw even a .25 cal can do a lot of damage, and as I have always said the pea shooter in the pocket always beats the cannon left in the car, especially in a situation like this. Again cudos to you for a taking care of your friend, and I hope that you can do what you need to be safe. God Bless!
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