By Katherine Rosenberg
The Daily Press

SPRING VALLEY LAKE, Calif. — A single gunshot rang out while an off-duty firefighter was inside a local market. When he looked outside, he saw a man bleeding and staggering before falling to the ground.

Immediately, the trained paramedic grabbed all the gauze the market had and ran to the aid of 27-year-old John Kacir, who was suffering from a gunshot wound to his stomach.

"(Kacir) might be dead if he hadn't been there," said Deputy Mike New, who is handling the shooting that took place outside Spring Valley Lake's post office Tuesday evening. "He very possibly saved his life."

New, of the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department Victor Valley station, said that Kacir is in critical condition but is expected to survive following the 7:10 p.m. shooting. Authorities have no motive for the crime, nor do they have any suspects in custody.

When the firefighter started administering first aid on Kacir, he also called other rescue workers directly to get them to the scene, a second move that helped to get the victim immediate care, officials said.

"The boy's dad asked for (the firefighter's) name right away. He wants to thank him," New said.

Kacir was flown to a trauma center in Palm Springs for his injuries, and is expected to recover while authorities search for the gunman.

Copyright 2008 Daily Press