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FOX25 Investigates: Paramedic lied about Boston Marathon bombing heroics

BOSTON — A St. Louis Paramedic was honored as a Boston Marathon Bombing hero last month, but an investigation has determined it was all a hoax.

FOX25 Investigates first uncovered suspicions in January about paramedic Shawn Daniel’s story that he rushed to the scene of the Boston Marathon bombings in 2013.

Daniel, who was recently honored at a St. Louis Blues hockey game for his public service, including his claim of heroics, even showed his bosses at the St. Louis Fire Department a photo he claimed showed was of him tending to the wounded in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks as proof.

On Tuesday, the St. Louis Fire Department sent FOX25 Investigates a letter confirming what multiple sources first told FOX25 Investigates: Daniel repeatedly lied about his involvement in responding to the Boston Marathon bombings.

The department found that Daniel falsely claimed he ran to the scene and was instructed by the National Guard to move patients. St. Louis Fire officials say they determined Daniel was never on scene and did not provide any medical assistance to bombing victims.
           
The St. Louis Fire Department also determined that the photo Daniel showed his bosses was actually of a Boston firefighter treating an injured civilian at the finish line -- something FOX25 reported last month after Investigative Reporter Eric Rasmussen went to Missouri in search of answers.

Daniel's former manager in New Hampshire and others told FOX25 Investigates last month the 31-year-old paramedic was never there that day.

On the day of the Boston Marathon bombings, Daniel was working in New Hampshire as a paramedic for a private ambulance company, American Medical Response.

In a released statement the St. Louis Fire Department said Daniel “apologizes for providing false information, and for bringing undo press and bad publicity onto the department.”

Capt. Garon Mosby of the St. Louis Fire Department said Daniel is currently on “personal leave,” which has nothing to do with the investigation.

Mosby told FOX25 Investigates whether the department decides to discipline Daniel is part of “internal personnel proceedings.”

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