April 14-- A volunteer firefighter in Prince George's County who was shot several times while responding to a medical call says he is still recovering and feels immense guilt one year after a shooting that resulted in the death of his partner.
"It just feels like it was yesterday," Morningside firefighter Kevin Swain told WNBC News in Washington, opening up for the first time about the harrowing incident that nearly took his life on April 15, 2016.
Swain's partner, 37-year-old John Ulmschneider, was killed in a hail of gunfire that erupted when they were responding to a call at a home in Temple Hills. The homeowner, Darrell Lumpkin, opened fire when the response crew tried to enter his house.
"I remember a flash," Swain said. "I didn't hear it and then it was like slow-mo and then... you just kept hearing the bangs."
Swain, who was 19 at the time of the shooting, was critically wounded.
"I was shot (in my) right abdomen, my back, my hip and -- I called it my million-dollar wound like Forrest Gump -- my left butt cheek. And then the bullet actually sits right here down my leg," he told NBC.
Ulmschneider, whose nickname was "Skillet," was a 13-year veteran of the Prince George's County Fire Department and left behind a wife and young daughter.
Swain said he suffered with overwhelming guilt after the shooting that killed his friend and partner.
"It bothered me. It ate me alive, actually, because I would have to think that, you know, his two-year-old daughter will never see her father again," he said.
He also told NBC that he felt anger over Lumpkin not facing charges for the shooting. Lumpkin was indicted on six weapons charges in July, but not the shooting itself, and is set to be sentenced Friday.
"I mean, I was angry. I'm not going to lie. I was angry," Swain said. "It's just a feeling of shock. I just couldn’t believe it."
The Morningside Volunteer Fire Department medics who were on that call said they're thankful their crew is back together.
"You know, we all really came together and made everyone feel really supported... and that confirmed all of the reasons I joined Morningside in the first place," said Morningside Lt. Michael O'Brien.
"I'm here for a reason, I guess," Swain said.
