Bullet narrowly misses two FDNY EMTs seated in ambulance

Courtesy Anthony Almojera

Courtesy Anthony Almojera

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Two FDNY EMTs seated in their ambulance at the scene of a medical emergency on Webster Avenue in the Bronx early in the morning of May 21 were nearly struck by a bullet that flew through the windshield of their ambulance. The two lifesavers had just pulled up to respond to a 911 call shortly after midnight when shots rang out and a bullet flew through their ambulance, just between where the two EMTs were sitting.

An 18-year-old male on the scene was hit and suffered a gunshot wound to the abdomen, an NYPD official said. The department is investigating the shooting and no suspects have been named.

Michael Greco, the president of the union representing FDNY EMTs, paramedics and fire protection inspectors, told The Chief on last week that the two EMTs were "shaken up," and while physically fine, were dealing with "psychological trauma."

"We'll take care of them the best we can," the union leader said. "It's a terrible situation."

Greco said the shooting was an example of the many on the job hazards that FDNY EMTs, paramedics and EMS officers experience while on the job. He said the incident was a random act of violence that neither of the two medics could have predicted and would be difficult to prevent.

"When you take this job you're aware of the violence and we are frequently put in violent situations," he said.

Last month, four EMTs were injured while responding to a call for help inside of an apartment building in the Bronx.

The EMS crew involved in the shooting this week was responding from Station 26 in the Bronx.

"Every day, our FDNY EMTs and Paramedics do an incredibly dangerous job and we are so thankful neither members were injured in this shooting," Amanda Farinacci, a spokesperson for the FDNY, said in a statement. "Though the FDNY provides body armor, de-escalation, and self-defense training, we cannot control the environment or the situations they walk into while performing their duty. Every New Yorker should want to protect those heroes who step forward to save lives."

So far this year there have been 69 assaults of EMS workers by their patients, according to the FDNY. In 2025 there were 191 such assaults.

Anthony Almojera, a lieutenant paramedic and the vice president of the EMS officers union, said in a text that the duo survived by "sheer luck."

"Incidents like this are a stark reminder that EMTs and paramedics face the same dangers as every other 911 responder, often arriving before scenes are truly secure," he said. "Had this ended in tragedy, their families would have faced the additional injustice of receiving significantly lower line-of-duty death benefits than other uniformed emergency services in New York City. No one answering a call for help should have their sacrifice valued less after the fact."