Engine 15 Crew Honored With State’s Highest Civilian Award for Bravery
Published on June 30, 2025
Charlotte Fire’s Engine 15 crew members Engineer Justin Barringer, Firefighter Jonathan Moore, and Firefighter William Costello stand together after receiving The Order of the Long Leaf Pine from Governor Josh Stein for their bravery on April 29, 2024.
Four members of Charlotte Fire’s Engine 15 received the state’s highest civilian honor Monday morning when North Carolina Governor Josh Stein presented them with The Order of the Long Leaf Pine. The award, which has been given since 1963, recognizes exemplary service and significant contributions to the state and community.
Engineer Justin Barringer, Firefighter William Costello, Firefighter Jonathan Moore, and Captain Nathan Jones (in absentia) were honored for their bravery on April 29, 2024, when they responded to an active shooter incident that claimed the lives of four law enforcement officers. Charlotte Fire Chief Reginald Johnson accepted the award on behalf of Captain Jones, who could not attend the ceremony.
The Engine 15 crew, from left to right: Jonathan Moore, William Costello, Nathan Jones, and Justin Barringer, stand together in front of their station after their heroic actions during one of the most dangerous calls in Charlotte’s history.
“These firefighters entered a situation that most would run from,” Governor Stein said. “Their heroic actions will not be forgotten.”
The April 29 incident unfolded as members of a U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force attempted to serve a warrant at a residence on Galway Drive in east Charlotte. What began as a standard operation quickly escalated when the suspect opened fire from inside the home. CMPD Officer Joshua Eyer, NC Department of Adult Correction Officers William "Alden" Elliott and Sam Poloche, and U.S. Marshal Thomas Weeks Jr. were fatally shot. Several others were injured.
As gunfire erupted, the Engine 15 crew responded to what initially came through as an unknown medical call. Upon learning that officers were down, they swiftly donned ballistic vests and advanced into the danger zone. With cover from law enforcement, they extracted Officer Eyer and loaded him into a police vehicle so he could be rushed to paramedics. They then returned to the hot zone to assist with the rescue of Officer Elliott, delivering emergency medical care en route to the hospital.
Governor Josh Stein presents Firefighter William Costello with The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, recognizing his courage and commitment during one of Charlotte’s darkest days.
“We didn’t have time to think about anything else,” Costello said in a previous interview. “The only thing on our minds was getting those officers out.”
Despite being one of the newer members on the crew, Moore proved unshakable. “I learned more in those eight minutes than I had in my entire career,” he said. Moore had only been at Station 15 for a few months when the call came in.
Firefighter Jonathan Moore is awarded The Order of the Long Leaf Pine by Governor Josh Stein. Moore, one of the newest members of Engine 15, showed unwavering determination during the April 29 response.
The crew’s captain, Nathan Jones, praised his team’s cohesion and courage. “You never know if your people will follow you on the bad day—until they do,” Jones said. “You train for moments like this, but nothing prepares you for walking into an active gunfight. And when that happened, my guys didn’t hesitate.”
Charlotte Fire Chief Reginald Johnson, who accepted the award on Jones’s behalf, emphasized the gravity of their actions. “These men showed extraordinary courage under unimaginable circumstances,” Johnson said. “They stepped into harm’s way not knowing what would happen next. That is the essence of bravery.”
Engineer Justin Barringer receives The Order of the Long Leaf Pine from North Carolina Governor Josh Stein for his actions during the Galway Drive tragedy in April 2024.
Chief Johnson also recognized the significance of the state’s highest honor being bestowed upon firefighters. “This award doesn’t just reflect what happened that day,” he said. “It reflects a career and a calling defined by selflessness. The members of Engine 15 acted with honor, professionalism, and heart.”
The Order of the Long Leaf Pine is among North Carolina’s most prestigious awards. Past recipients include notable figures like Maya Angelou, Dale Earnhardt, Michael Jordan, and Billy Graham. But as Governor Stein noted in his remarks, “Most of the members of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine are just regular folks—those who are committed to serving their communities.”
Monday’s ceremony highlighted that sentiment. While celebrities may share the award, it is the everyday public servants—those who place others before themselves—who define its spirit.
Surrounded by Charlotte Fire leadership, members of Engine 15 are honored for their heroic actions during the April 29 active shooter incident. Their quick response under fire helped save lives and earned them North Carolina’s highest civilian honor.
Governor Stein reminded the audience of the power of community and the ideals represented by the award. “May we all take inspiration from the people in this room who’ve been recognized today,” he said. “They have made their own imprint on what it means to be a public servant.”
In the Governor’s closing remarks, he offered a North Carolina toast, a tradition given to all recipients of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine:
“Here’s to the land of the longleaf pine,
The summer land where the sun doth shine,
Where the weak grow strong and the strong grow great,
Here’s to ‘down home,’ the Old North State!”
As the applause faded and the ceremony came to a close, one thing remained certain. Engine 15’s bravery will long be remembered, not only by the citizens of Charlotte but now by the entire state of North Carolina. The crew of Engine 15 now joins a distinguished roster of Order of the Long Leaf Pine recipients. Their names and award date will be permanently recorded by the society. And while they may humbly deflect the term “hero,” their actions that day — and the lives they fought to save — will never be forgotten.