Story perspectives

Judge’s “Victim 0001” death certificate listed September 11’s first casualty

By Drooid · Sep 11, 2026, 6:47 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Judge Memorialized

Reuters photographer Shannon Stapleton captured Judge being carried, creating the “Pietà” image that spread worldwide.
Judge’s death certificate listed him as Victim 0001, the first official casualty of September 11.
A peace garden, bench, and tree planting now honor Judge in Keshcarrigan, County Leitrim, Ireland.
Judge’s fire helmet was presented to Pope John Paul II after his death.
His body was carried by firefighters, NYPD Lt. William Cosgrove, FDNY EMT Kevin Allen, and John Maguire.

Summary

Colucci Leads 9/11 Masses

Tom Colucci, former NYFD lieutenant turned priest, leads 25th-anniversary Masses for 9/11 firefighters.
He was ordained in 2016, becoming the first retired firefighter to serve as a Catholic priest.
Colucci ministers at Precious Blood Parish in Wallkill, NY, and says 400 firefighters have died from 9/11-related cancers.
Rev. Jeff Ethen and Fr. Peter Kirchner return to Ground Zero every five years, accompanied by six Battle Lake firefighters.

History

Historical Context

On February 26 1993, Ramzi Yousef’s van bomb exploded beneath the North Tower, killing six people and injuring more than 1,000 while evacuating 50,000 occupants. The attack marked the first major terrorist strike on the World Trade Center, prompting security warnings from FBI agents like John O’Neill and a 1995 memorial fountain. Its legacy shaped preparedness and the 2001 September 11 Victims Compensation Fund, which excluded 1993 survivors.

1 of 3

Judge Memorialized

Reuters photographer Shannon Stapleton captured Judge being carried, creating the “Pietà” image that spread worldwide.
Judge’s death certificate listed him as Victim 0001, the first official casualty of September 11.
A peace garden, bench, and tree planting now honor Judge in Keshcarrigan, County Leitrim, Ireland.
Judge’s fire helmet was presented to Pope John Paul II after his death.
His body was carried by firefighters, NYPD Lt. William Cosgrove, FDNY EMT Kevin Allen, and John Maguire.

1 / 3