Massachusetts Governor honors veteran for stopping Memorial Drive shooter

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey presented Marine Corps veteran Thomas Joseph “TJ” Swenson Jr. with the Madeline “Amy” Sweeney Award for Civilian Bravery during the state’s annual September 11 commemoration.

Swenson was honored for his actions during a shooting on Memorial Drive in Cambridge on May 11. During the incident, 46-year-old Tyler Brown fired approximately 50 to 60 rounds from an automatic rifle, injuring two men in a vehicle and striking multiple cars. Swenson alerted nearby civilians to the danger and used his licensed firearm to assist State Police in neutralizing the shooter before first responders arrived.

The award is named in honor of Madeline Amy Sweeney, a flight attendant who provided critical information regarding the hijacking of American Airlines Flight 11 on September 11, 2001, before the plane struck the World Trade Center. Officials noted that Swenson’s courage reflects the legacy of selflessness associated with the award.