Two years after the harrowing shooting at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital, John D’Alonzo, the man who tackled the mentally ill patient who shot and killed his caseworker and injured a doctor, remembers that fateful day and Theresa Hunt, his slain coworker, writes Patti Mengers for the Daily Times.

The Darby Township resident, who received the Carnegie Medal for heroism for his actions, recently spoke about the events that occurred on July 24, two years ago.

He commemorates Hunt and shares his perspective of the mental health system that he has devoted 15 years of his life to.

On the day of the shootings, D’Alonzo and Hunt were among 12 case managers working at the Community Care Program at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital. He had worked with Hunt for close to three years. His pain remains as intense as it was on that fateful day.

“She was easy to be around,” D’Alonzo said of Hunt. “I always liked working with her. She was reliable. Theresa loved to laugh, bust chops. She thought I was ‘square’ and uptight. She was really good with her patients. They respected her.”

Today, D’Alonzo says he would like to see changes in the mental-healthcare delivery system. He has personally witnessed the effect on family members of mentally ill individuals who refuse to take their medication.

“I wish there could be a stronger ‘system’ in place to allow those family members to have a place to petition to the court or a team of doctors, nurses, and social workers to enforce certain medications to be utilized,” said D’Alonzo.

Read more about the Carnegie hero in the Daily Times by clicking here.