Just before the first anniversary of the Fire Station 81 shooting that left one firefighter dead and another injured, a grieving brother and brothers in arms shared a tearful tribute to the fallen firefighter after a year without him.

Exactly one year ago, on June 1, 2021, Santa Clarita emergency responders united closer than they ever had to in the face of tragedy that occurred in their own station– a meeting place where they come together to bond between combatting tragedies, not to experience it firsthand. 

“Another tear-filled tribute,” said Brent Carlon, the brother of the fallen firefighter, in response to the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s 2022 Firefighters Memorial Service.

In a ceremony that normally pays tribute to the firefighters who gave it their all while serving with bravery and distinction, Carlon’s brother’s story looks a little different. 

Firefighter Specialist Tory Carlon — a 20-year veteran of the Department and admired by many through the dedication of his job — passed away during his morning shift exactly one year ago today, by the hands of a disgruntled coworker. 

“As a fire chief, I’ve dealt with a lot of deaths and a lot of fallen members of my department,” said Fire Chief Daryl L. Osby of the Los Angeles County Fire Department. “And I’ve always prayed that we would never have a line-of-duty death— and never thought that if it occurred that it would occur in this fashion.”

How It All Unfolded

Firefighter Tory Carlon, 44, was inside the Agua Dulce firehouse with Fire Captain Arnie Sandoval, 55, on June 1, 2021 when a disgruntled off-duty firefighter returned to the station and opened fire. 

Only two other employees were on-shift during the attack, and the two quickly came together, providing medical aid to the two firefighters who were shot. 

Around 10:55 a.m. on June 1, neighboring stations received reports of the shooting on the 8700 block of Sierra Highway in Agua Dulce, just north of Santa Clarita, according to Osby.

While their quick response resulted in saving the life of Sandoval, Carlon – who was shot several times in the upper torso – succumbed to his injuries and passed away within minutes.

A manhunt for the shooter quickly ensued, leading emergency responders to the suspect’s home in Acton which had reportedly caught fire during the investigation. 

“Following the shooting we learned that the firefighter returned to his house,” Osby said. “He barricaded himself. The home was set on fire. And he was also found deceased.”

In the hours following the shooting at Station 81, aerial footage showed the home burning to the ground with only a few walls still standing, and possibly a body floating in the backyard pool. 

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Bureau, known as the SWAT for other law enforcement, were deployed to drop from helicopters and surround the property – which at the time was believed to be rigged with explosives, before discovering the suspect had turned the gun on himself, dying by a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. 

The gunman was identified as 45-year-old fire specialist Jonathan Tatone who had been working as a county firefighter since at least 2012, according to public payroll and pension records kept by Transparent California. 

While little information has been released regarding a particular reason for the shooting, preliminary interviews with other firefighters suggested that the shooter and 20-year veteran firefighter who was shot had “some workplace beef,” according to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Lt. Brandon Dean in 2021, who is overseeing the homicide investigation. 

“It sounds like they didn’t like each other,” Dean told Fox News, without disclosing further details.

Fire Chief Daryl Osby gathers alongside community officials on June 1 to discuss the shooting at Fire Station 81 that occurred earlier that morning.

Remembering The Fallen

Survived by his wife and three daughters, Carlon and his family were well-known throughout the Santa Clarita Valley, and most notably loved for his dedication to family and community. 

“This loss is extremely heartbreaking and tough,” Osby said. “But also, what remains in the hearts of many of us is Tory… He was a loving husband, father, son, brother, uncle… coworker and friend. Tory loved his job; but when I met his family, I knew that that was his second love. His first love was his family… Tory will always be with us. He will greatly be missed, but he will never be forgotten.”

Long-time friend and fire captain Chris Lujano commented on the type of man Carlon was during a memorial service in June of 2021, noting their experiences going through firemen training together to being each other’s best man at each other’s weddings. 

“He was a man of principle,” Lujano said. “He wanted to do things the right way.” 

Carlon’s oldest daughter Joslyn also delivered a speech, supported by her mother and two sisters. 

“My daddy raised his girls well,” she said. “He taught us right from wrong and was such an amazing role model to have as a child. I hope I can carry that on to my younger sister, Brie, and share stories to her about him, because unfortunately, she only got six years with my daddy. And I also hope to carry it on to my own kids one day as well.”

In the days following the initial Station 81 shooting, Joslyn graduated from Saugus High School, and felt the love from first responders around the state.

When her name was called, she had her Father’s firefighting jacket draped over her shoulders and support from hundreds of firefighters from throughout Los Angeles County and the state filling the College of the Canyons stadium, with dozens of fire engines in the parking lot.

Memorialized by his brothers in arms and his family of girls, his older brother also remembers how Carlon ultimately shaped the man he had become, and misses him dearly. 

“Little brother, I looked up to you, the career you had,” Brent said. “In closing… something good will come out of this.”

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