The Chattanooga Fire Department wants to commend Captain Brad Petty (Engine 9, Green Shift) for his actions while off-duty on Saturday. He rushed to render aid to a shooting victim in a terrifying incident on I-24 in Rutherford County. Captain Petty was with his family on the way home from his son’s wrestling tournament when they saw a car swerve off to the side of the interstate. As they got closer, a man jumped out of the car and was frantically waving for someone to stop and help. Brad pulled over and found a young woman suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. She was traveling with her siblings and someone shot into their car, a bullet striking her in the back seat. Captain Petty opened her airway and used her brother’s shirt to apply pressure to her wounds. As all of this was happening, Brad’s daughter, a Chattanooga lifeguard, relayed important information to dispatch and provided comfort to the other people in the car.
The Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office told media outlets that the shooting took place after a possible road rage incident on the eastbound side of I-24 near the Interstate 840 exit just before 1 p.m.
Captain Petty and his daughter provided assistance in a very scary situation. Our firefighters are incredible and always willing to help, no matter what.
“When I saw the panic in that man’s face, I knew I needed to stop and do what I could. I am really proud of how calm my daughter remained and I’m just glad we were in the right place at the right time. I ask for prayers for the victim and her family,” Captain Petty stated.
Investigators later revealed that the incident was a targeted shooting, not road rage as initially thought. Two people have been charged in the case. The victim was listed in critical but stable condition.
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