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Crime, Law and Justice
Nina Moini
St. Paul

Dad: St. Paul firefighter killed in home served in Iraq, Afghanistan

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Tom Harrigan worked for the St. Paul Fire Department.
Thomas Harrigan, 36, an off-duty firefighter, was found shot at his home on Monday.
Courtesy of Saint Paul Firefighters Local 21

The father of the military veteran and St. Paul fire paramedic found dead in his east St. Paul home Monday says his son had post traumatic stress disorder after serving in Afghanistan and Iraq, and was compassionate on the job.

Thomas Harrigan's father John said his 36-year-old son also dealt with substance abuse.

The father described his son as a decorated war veteran who served multiple tours of duty, earning The Bronze Star. John Harrigan said his son was also in the Minnesota National Guard, earning the rank of sergeant first class.

Of Thomas Harrigan’s time with the St. Paul Fire Department his father wrote, “He saved lives as a paramedic with the St. Paul Fire Department. On medical calls, he treated people with compassion, according to the praise of the St. Paul fire chief, and also worked hard on fire calls. In one instance, he saved a woman from death by performing an emergency tracheotomy.”

In a public post, John Harrigan shared his son's funeral will be held at the Fort Snelling Chapel next Thursday. A visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 11 at O’Halloran and Murphy funeral home in St. Paul.

John Harrigan said his son was shot in his living room by “a person who had no right to be there.”

Investigators were called to a house on Ivy Avenue East just after 8:30 p.m. Monday. They found Thomas Harrigan suffering from a gunshot wound to the abdomen. He died a short time later at Regions Hospital.

St. Paul police say the investigation into Harrigan's death continues and no one has been arrested as of Thursday evening.

Police say they do not believe the shooting was random. The death is the city's 15th homicide this year.