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CHS photographer honored for rendering aid — and getting the picture — in 11th and Pine protest shooting

Photographer Alex Garland chats with Daniel Gregory at the Martin Luther King Jr. Day march in January (Image courtesy: Michael Barkin)

Seattle photographer Alex Garland has added a lot to CHS news coverage of Capitol Hill over the years. Last summer, Garland, as usual, found himself in the middle of an important neighborhood news story and, as usual, he got the picture.

But as gunfire rang out in a crowd of hundreds of people and dozens of police and National Guard troops in a June protest at 11th and Pine, Garland’s role became much more than photojournalist as he moved to quickly render aid to Dan Gregory, an unarmed Black Lives Matter protester shot as he tried to disarm Nikolas Fernandez, the brother of an East Precinct officer, after Fernandez drove into a demonstration crowd at 11th and Pine.

This week, the National Press Photographers Association recognized Garland with its Humanitarian Award as part of its 2020 honors:

On June 7, 2020, Garland, a freelance photographer, reporter and writer, was photographing a protest against police brutality and racism in Seattle. Garland was closeby when Dan Gregory was shot in the arm as he attempted to stop the driver of a vehicle that appeared to be heading towards a throng of protesters.

“I care deeply about documenting the moment, but ultimately I see myself as a community member as much as a journalist,” Garland writes about the moment at 11th and Pine when he decided he needed to put aside his camera and act.

“It was a combination of training, experience, and preparation that allowed me to act when Dan Gregory was shot while attempting to stop someone from driving into a crowd of protesters. Knowing the sound of gunfire, having the skills to act, and being in the right place at the right time put me at Dan’s side within seconds of the shot,” said Garland, who graduated with a degree in Emergency Administration and Disaster Planning from the University of North Texas and carries a trauma kit in his bag.

“After working with street medics to find an exit wound and seeing there was none, I made the call to tourniquet Dan’s arm as even a small bullet fragment can open an artery,” Garland writes. “After Dan got to his feet and street medics were helping him to an ambulance, I picked up my role as a journalist once again and asked for an interview. Helping to render aid came before journalism, and that feels right to me.”

“Garland’s quick actions may have saved Gregory’s life, and reminds us that we are human beings first and photographers second,” the NPPA says of its selection of the photographer for the honor.

You can see Garland’s pictures and video from the day in CHS’s coverage of the shooting here.

Gregory, meanwhile, has physically recovered from his injuries and has remained an active leader in the Black Lives Matter efforts in Seattle. Garland photographed him again here as Seattle activists marked 150 days of protest in the city.

Fernandez has claimed self-defense and pleaded not guilty to first degree assault in the case.

 

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9 Comments
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C Doom
C Doom
2 years ago

I could not be more proud of you. You do us all such a daily service with your work on this site. Thank you.

Ryan Packer
Ryan Packer
2 years ago

Is Alex a Seattle treasure? The answer is yes.

Spencer Beard
Spencer Beard
2 years ago

Alex is the best. And his story emphasizes how much we don’t know about the other people we share this space with. Thanks for the article and thanks to you, Alex.

Andrea
Andrea
2 years ago

Thank you, Alex!!

Jeanine A
Jeanine A
2 years ago

Congratulations on the award Alex. Not only a great photographer but a great human!
Your photo journalism of our neighborhood is so appreciated. You and Justin are a great team covering the Hill and the CD. I can always tell when a photo is yours in a CHS (and other news outlets) story because of it illustrates the story well and has excellent lighting, composition, and a just-right amount of post-processing.

Michael Seiwerath
Michael Seiwerath
2 years ago

Well deserved! Alex is a courageous photographer who also has a damn good eye for framing images. Bravo.

Edward Everett
Edward Everett
2 years ago

Thanks Alex!

Catherine Hillenbrand
Catherine Hillenbrand
2 years ago

Well deserved Alex. Thank you for your presence, persistence and clear thinking.

David S Ball-Romney
2 years ago

I had a good view of Nikolas Fernandez speeding toward the crowd: https://www.instagram.com/p/CBKTYWdlN8G/
Was he convicted?
As an eye witness, he appeared to intend to speed into the crowd and would have had someone not put a metal barrier in his path. Considering that his brother reportedly worked at the police precint no reasonable person would conclude that Fernandez was unaware of the presence of the gathered crowed. If he wasn’t intending to cause harm, why did he bring a pistol with what appeared to be an extended clip?
Is this what Florida just made legal?