On Tuesday, Wilkes County (North Carolina) Sheriff Deputies, Wilkes EMS, and Mulberry Fairplains Fire were dispatched to a shooting in North Wilkesboro. When they arrived, they found Daniel Long, 21, conducting CPR on his girlfriend Jenna Boles, 19, who had been shot. Both Long and Boles are Firefighters/EMTs in the county. Responding Deputies, Firefighters, and Paramedics relieved FF Long from doing CPR but pronounced FF Boles dead at the scene moments later. While investigating, deputies learned that FF Long had stated multiple times that he “accidentally shot her.”
FF Long then walked out to his vehicle, pulled out a handgun, and shot himself. FF Long was taken to a nearby hospital where he later died. The Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office and NCSBI are investigating this horrible chain of events.
Our condolences to all those affected-Rest In Peace.
Below is a message from the Wilkesboro Firefighters reflecting on their loss.
Take Care. Be Careful. Pass it On.
BillyG
The Secret List 8/10/2023-1554 Hours
On 12/20/2021 the Wilkesboro Fire Department received a wonderful Christmas present. This is the day that Daniel Murphy Long AKA “Fridge” was hired to be a part-time Firefighter with the town. Fridge came to Wilkesboro Fire Department to build on his prior fire service experience while also continuing his membership with the North Wilkesboro Fire Department. What a jewel he was, he fit right in with us. If you spent any time at all around Fridge, you would quickly recognize that he was well on his way to a successful career. Fridge had a heart that yearned to serve others. He was always ready to jump right in and help with any task at hand from washing trucks to running calls.
Fridge came to be loved by everyone he met. There was never a time that Fridge was at the station where people weren’t laughing, whether it was at him or with him. The funny faces, the crazy comments and the pure craziness that encircled Fridge made any bad day better.
One day a young lady named Jenna Boles came to the fire station to see Fridge. Unknown to some of us they had struck up a relationship. Under all those jokes Fridge had a true heart of gold, and you could see it come out when Jenna walked in. They matched perfectly. She had as big of bashful smile as he did, and they both seemed to be mesmerized with each other. It was so easy to see that he loved Jenna, the fire service and being around the people that he cared about the most.
One day a young lady named Jenna Boles came to the fire station to see Fridge. Unknown to some of us they had struck up a relationship. Under all those jokes Fridge had a true heart of gold, and you could see it come out when Jenna walked in. They matched perfectly. She had as big of bashful smile as he did, and they both seemed to be mesmerized with each other. It was so easy to see that he loved Jenna, the fire service and being around the people that he cared about the most.
Jenna’s family has a strong background in emergency services in Wilkes County with her grandfather serving as Fire Chief for Roaring River Volunteer Fire Department and her father serving in Officer positions with both Roaring River Volunteer Fire Department and Ronda Volunteer Fire Department. Jenna had a passion to follow in her family’s path and was pursuing education for the health care industry. Fridge had started working part-time at Ronda Volunteer Fire Department, Millers Creek Volunteer Fire Department, and had just accepted a job with Forsyth County 911 Communications Center this week. Their life together was starting to take off.
When Jenna and Fridge left their worldly bodies, they left a large void that will never be filled. We ask that everyone remember Jenna’s family, Fridge’s family, members of Wilkesboro Fire Department, North Wilkesboro Fire Department, Ronda Volunteer Fire Department, Millers Creek Volunteer Fire Department, Mulberry-Fairplains Volunteer Fire Department, Wilkes County EMS, and Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office in your thoughts and prayers. The time ahead will be tough for all of us.
Jenna and Fridge touched many lives and made a larger impact than they ever even knew. In honor of Jenna and Fridge we ask that you give a compliment or do a kind gesture for someone in your life, remember them both for their big hearts and their smiling faces. Rest easy Jenna and Fridge, we will take it from here. The Members of Wilkesboro Fire Department