Gary Dziekan

Gary Dziekan, known as 'Zeek,' is an off-duty firefighter in Washington, DC, who gained media attention after being shot during an attempted robbery on September 20, 2023. While walking home from an Oktoberfest party, he confronted a masked assailant who attempted to rob him. After being shot and failing to get a response from 911, Dziekan dialed his firehouse directly for help. His experience highlighted significant issues within the DC emergency dispatch system, which has faced criticism for staffing shortages and response times.