Crime & Safety

Essex Family Honors Baltimore County Paramedic

Lt. Richard Lannen is credited with saving the life of gunshot victim Donald Lee in 2009.

Donald Lee was ready for a fight on Jan. 14, 2009.

After he and a friend got into an argument with two other men, Lee came with his fists up and prepared to come to blows on the streets of Aero Acres. Sean Griffin had other ideas.

Griffin, along with his friend Michael Collet, drove up to Lee at the intersection of Left Wing Drive and Cord Street and opened fire. Griffin, 20, of Kingsville, shot Lee once in the chest before driving off, leaving his then 19-year-old victim for dead.

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Lee appeared to be well on his way toward becoming another homicide victim in Baltimore County. That's until Lt. Richard Lannen arrived on the scene.

The young man’s condition was so grave that Lannen, a Baltimore County paramedic who lives in Abingdon, had to put a needle in Lee’s chest to relieve the pressure before loading him into an ambulance and transporting him to Shock Trauma.

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Lee made it to Shock Trauma alive and spent 1 ½ weeks there and an additional three months rehabbing at home before making a full recovery. Lee and his mother, Luana of Middle River, credit Lannen for saving the young man’s life.

Donald and Luana Lee wanted to recognize Lannen for his work and presented him with a homemade citation in front of friends, EMS providers, firefighters and media on Thursday morning at the Baltimore County Fire Department station in Middle River.

“My son is alive today because of Lt. Lannen,” said Luana Lee, 44. “He gave me my son back and I will always be grateful for that. Lt. Lannen is my hero.”

Donald Lee said in many ways he was glad he got shot. He believes his life was heading down the wrong path and his near-death experience provided him with a second chance and a new perspective on what is important.

Lee added he wanted to make sure he never put himself in such a position again so he can be there for his children, Destiny, 4, and Robert, 1.

As for those involved in his shooting, Griffin was found guilty of attempted second-degree murder on Feb. 10. Collet, 20, of Middle River, pleaded guilty to first-degree assault and using a handgun while committing a felony in Jan. 2010.

“It’s not worth it to fight,” Donald Lee said. “It’s not like it was back in the day when two people fought with their fists and that was that. Now, people show up with guns. If it wasn’t for Lt. Lannen, I would be dead right now and my kids would be growing up without a father.”

For his part, Lannen, who has been in the fire department for 24 years, said he is appreciative of the attention but stressed Lee’s positive outcome wasn’t just because of him.

“Whenever you go on a call you know you have the chance to make a difference,” Lannen said. “It feels good when you can help someone, but it’s a team effort, from the police on the scene to your partner driving the ambulance to the hospital. No one person can do the job alone.”


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