McConnell Airman responds to shooting downtown

  • Published
  • By 1st Lieutenant Jessica Brown
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  An Airman from McConnell AFB, and Wichita native, was among the first to respond to a gunshot victim in downtown Wichita, Kan., Sept. 22, 2013.

Staff Sgt. Marcus Tucker, 22nd Air Refueling Wing Contracting Squadron contract administrator, and his wife, Ashley, celebrated their high school ten-year reunion at a local restaurant that evening and were on their way back to their vehicles when they heard gunfire.

"I was saying goodbye to some of my old friends when I heard about 12 shots," said Tucker. "Then all of the sudden it was like a flood of people rushing toward us."

Tucker said it took a second for him to comprehend the situation and before he realized the gunshots were aimed in their direction. His first instinct was to seek shelter and protect his wife. As they found safety, Tucker witnessed 10 officers with their weapons drawn sprinting toward the gun shots.

"It was only a few seconds before we noticed three people carrying what appeared to be an injured man," said Tucker.

Knowing he had to help, Tucker accessed the scene and asked the group if they could use some help. As he approached, however, he noticed they looked dazed and confused.

"The victim was bleeding profusely from his head and his buttocks," said Tucker. "I'm not sure what they were thinking because they were just staring at the victim. I think they were in shock."

It was at that moment that Tucker realized he had to stop the bleeding or the victim would die. He turned the nearby onlookers and told them what they needed to do to help.

"I didn't know their names so I referred to them as the items of clothing they were wearing," said Tucker. "I told the guy wearing a blue shirt to call 9-1-1 and the guy in the white to help apply pressure."

Tucker said they used any spare article of clothing as an attempt to stop the bleeding. He recognized several symptoms exhibited by the victim shortly after he started applying pressure

"He was conscious, but had complained about a headache and that he wanted to sleep," he said. "I couldn't see an exit wound for the gunshot in his head, so I didn't want to let him go to sleep."

Tucker provided aid for nearly 15 minutes until paramedics arrived.

"I kept replaying the steps in my mind," Tucker said. "I wanted to make sure I was doing everything right for him, because I didn't want him to die."

After the victim was transported off scene, Tucker and his wife stayed behind to provide information to authorities and then continued on their way home.

Tucker attributes his ability to calmly respond to the incident as a result of the Self-Aid and Buddy-Care training he received in the Air Force. He says if he had the chance to do it all over again, he wouldn't change anything.

"The actions Staff Sgt. Tucker took that morning is the perfect example of service before self," said Maj. David Villarreal, 22nd Air Refueling Wing Contracting Squadron commander. "He could have run the other direction, yet he chose to help a complete stranger. His actions are a true testament to his character and to the training we provide our Airmen."