Firefighter Killed In Drive-By Will Continue Riding Along In Spirit
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – A city of Miami firefighter was shot and killed over the weekend in a drive-by shooting. Now his fellow firefighters are remembering him and talking about their loss.
Firefighter Chadrick Davis' gear sits untouched in his locker.
The 23-year-old was gunned down in a drive-by shooting early Saturday morning while attending a wake for someone else. His friend, 22-year-old Sirernest Williams who was a father-to-be, was also killed.
It's tough for those at the fire house when someone who saves lives is suddenly gone in such a violent way.
"Gun violence in this country is running rampant and it's always sad to see someone lost due to gun violence," fellow firefighter Raymond Parker said. "I don't think people understand the gravity of the situation."
Davis rode on Rescue 2 – the same ambulance that picked up his body from the scene Saturday morning and brought him to the medical examiner's office.
Those who ride in that unit will always keep him close. Part of his uniform will ride along with them.
"We will put that firefighter's helmet on the truck that they ride," said Capt. Steven Carroll. "And typically during that shift they would normally be working on, that vehicle rides around with that firefighter's helmet."
Tuesday morning fellow firefighters will carefully empty Davis' locker, then place his gear on board one of the fire trucks.
They will then accompany his body from the medical examiner's officer to the funeral home.
It's a somber tradition, a way for those who served with him to show they won't forget him.
But among their sadness here, they also want his murder to serve as a lesson to others.
"To anyone out there who's thinking of picking up a gun to kill someone else or harm somebody else, they don't come back. Every day we run on calls and pick up kids that are Chad's age, younger, older, it's always tragic," Parker said.
