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2 Va. firefighters fired for delay of aid to shooting victim

Two Newport News firefighters were terminated after an investigation found they ignored protocols

By Bill Carey
FireRescue1

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Two Newport News firefighters, one a senior lieutenant with 15 years of service, were terminated following an internal investigation that found they violated protocols during a response to a shooting last October.

On Oct. 15, 2023, police and firefighter-medics responded to a shot spotter alert and found Quandrell Williams on an apartment porch. Williams had been shot multiple times, including in the head, WAVY reported.

“When medics responded, and they found Mr. Williams, they declared Mr. Williams deceased. After some time of being on the incident, they realized that Mr. Williams was not deceased,” Interim Fire Chief Wesley Rogers said. “At that time, they loaded him and transported him to the hospital.”

Sources say Williams was alive and showing intentional movements for at least 40 minutes before being transported to Riverside Regional Medical Center.

Both Rogers and Police Chief Steve Drew stated that protocols were not followed but did not provide details due to the ongoing criminal investigation.