Norton Statement on Tragic Passing of Medric Mills, a Dunbar Classmate

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today released the following statement upon learning that Medric "Cecil" Mills, a D.C. resident who passed away last week, was a classmate at Dunbar High School. Mills died after firefighters at a fire station across the street from where he suffered a heart attack refused to offer help.

"Not only my own deep condolences, but the thoughts and prayers of our entire city, are with the Mills family ever since the tragic loss of Mr. Mills. Medric Mills spent his adult life, for nearly a half century, in service to the city where he was raised and was still working as a devoted D.C. government employee when he fell ill. His death is a personal and family tragedy that might have been preventable if firefighters had rendered assistance that many of our citizens would have offered to the best of their ability. The failure of firefighters trained to provide assistance to people like Mr. Mills was so bizarre that it has captured national attention. This tragic loss of Mr. Mills has not only done incalculable harm to his family, but also has painted an unfairly callous image of our city and of our D.C. firefighters who spend their careers heroically saving lives and rendering priceless assistance to residents."

Published: February 6, 2014