Reading PA Fire Department

Engine 3, Car 3 and Medic 602 were dispatched at 19:26 to the 400 blk. of Centre Ave.(Burger King parking lot) for a possible shooting. Medic 603, en route to another call, was flagged down while driving past the scene soon after the dispatch and around the same time when police arrived. The Medics got on location and relayed the same to the other Medics and advised them to continue to the previous call.

The crew had little time to adjust to the arrival on location at the scene of a recent shooting and witnessed the severity of the victim's injuries first hand. They radioed their report and Reading Hospital was alerted to the oncoming Trauma. With Engine 3 on location, the patient was loaded into the Med Unit and transported to the Medical Center. Despite efforts by Fire/EMS and Hospital personnel, the patient was pronounced soon after arrival. Reading Police have reportedly spoke to several witnesses about the incident but it is not known if the Medic crew was among those interviewed. Police continued with the investigation through the night and into the morning. Engine 3 was again called to the scene just after 11:00 the next day for a wash down.

Admin note: Street shootings have become a great cause for concern to Medics and Fire Personnel. Medic Units are on the street at all times of the day and the prospect of getting caught in the crossfire in the City is disturbing. It is tough to say but we should be thankful that the unit in this incident didn't arrive in the area any sooner or they very well could have become victims themselves. EMS personnel are trained not to enter a scene unless they are sure it is safe to do so which becomes difficult to do in a City where crime runs ramped.

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