Fire Specialist Tory Carlon, a victim of the Station 81 Shooting in June 2021, was honored alongside other fallen heroes by the  Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD) on Wednesday.

44-year-old Carlon was killed in a workplace shooting by a coworker, leaving behind his wife, Heidi, and three daughters.

Station 81 Shooting

Just before 11 a.m. on Tuesday, June 1, 2021, first responders received reports of a shooting at Fire Station 81 in Agua Dulce.

Carlon was shot and killed by fellow Fire Fighter Specialist Jonathan P. Tatone, 45, who had returned to Station 81 while off-duty and shot both Carlon and Fire Captain Arnaldo Sandoval. Carlon succumbed to his injuries at the scene, while Sandoval was transported to a local hospital and ultimately recovered.

Tatone then went to his home, lit the building on fire and took his own life before law enforcement could approach the home due to the flames. A concrete motive for the shooting has not been released to the public, however, a lawsuit filed by Carlon’s family in January 2022 cited interpersonal conflict that was allowed to continue unaddressed by the department as a major factor.

“Los Angeles County Fire employees also had actual or constructive knowledge of Tatone’s animus towards Firefighter Specialist Carlon,” the suit alleges. “Los Angeles County employees, in turn, ignored, accepted, or condoned the Tatone’s (sic) dangerous, abusive and threatening behavior to such an extent that Los Angeles County approved and ratified the conduct.”

The deadly shooting has since prompted more discussion about mental health in the workplace for first responders, which even with more awareness has gone chronically unaddressed in high-stress, high-trauma environments.

Remember The Fallen

Carlon’s name is joined on the Memorial Wall this year by three other LACoFD employees.

• Fire Fighter Paramedic Brian “Buck” Ballentine, died after a long illness on July 14, 2020.
• Fire Fighter Specialist Samuel C. Neubauer, died on March 2, 2020 after a long battle with cancer.
• Fire Fighter Jonathan E. Flager, who died of a heart attack after his breathing apparatus ran out of air while battling a Rancho Palos Verde house fire on Jan. 6, 2022.

“Although they are no longer with us, their lives and legacies continue to inspire us to carry on their unwavering commitment to service,” read a social media post from the LACoFD. “We will never forget them.”

Anyone seeking information about mental health resources available in the Santa Clarita Valley can look here for a list of resources. There are 24-hour phone numbers available. In the event of an emergency, 911 should always be the first call. Those looking to speak with someone can call:

• 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

• 1-800-854-7771 for the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health

• 1-800-784-2433 for the Treatment Advocacy Center

• 661-259-9439 for the SCV Child & Family Center

• 661-288-4800 for the Santa Clarita Valley Mental Health Center

• 661- 765-8445 for Insight Treatment Santa Clarita

• 800-852-8336 for the Teen Line Peer Suicide Prevention 6-10 p.m.  or text TEEN to 839863

• 1-866-488-7386 for the Trevor Project LGBTQ suicide helpline

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