When Capt. Sam Cutler answered the phone at Station 18 Saturday night, he was taken back by what he was hearing.
"He said 'It's Zeek.' I've been shot and I'm at eighth and C northeast. I'm bleeding and I need help.' I just said we're on our way," Cutler recalled.
After Gary "Zeek" Dziekan's 9-1-1 call wasn't answered, he called his station for help after he was shot by a 17-year-old teen, WUSA9 reported.
"We turned on the flood lights to light up the scene and saw him sitting there hunched over and holding his chest. It just hits you right here. Unbelievable," said Firefighter Michael Johnson.
In the first moments on scene, his crew told reporters they weren't sure how badly their he was hurt.
Firefighter/Paramedic Daniel Vitale was just three weeks out of the academy was on the call.
"I provided an IV, dressed his bullet wound and the rest of it was getting him to the hospital quickly, said Vitale.
Dziekan is now recovering from his injuries at home. His co-workers are thankful he survived this harrowing incident and will soon be able to return to his family at Engine 18.
"It's a brotherhood. We laugh, we joke, we might have some disagreements but at the end of the day, that's family," Firefighter Donta Henderson added.
And, those brothers and sisters are handling his shifts for the next month.
About the Author
Susan Nicol
News Editor
Susan Nicol is the news editor for Firehouse.com. She is a life member and active with the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Company, Oxford Fire Company and Brunswick Vol. Fire Co. Susie has been an EMT in Maryland since 1976. Susie is vice-president of the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum. She is on the executive committee of Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association. She also is part of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Region II EMS Council. Susie is a board member of the American Trauma Society, Maryland Division. Prior to joining the Firehouse team, she was a staff writer for The Frederick News-Post, covering fire, law enforcement, court and legislative issues.