'I just loved him' | Daughter claims a delayed 911 response cost her father his life

When we call 911, we expect a fast response in our most desperate hour of need. Expectations differed from reality on a hot August day in North Little Rock. One daughter believes hours of delays cost her father his #life. It has been four months since Cheryl Highfill got the call late one evening from her brother that their father had died. “I didn’t really know any details at that point. I left my house that night. I went to try to go to the coroner. They wouldn’t let me in to see him," said Highfill. It's a call she thought she had prepared for over the last 20 years. That's how long she has been fighting for her father's life as he battled #addictions that left him #homeless. “He was more than just a homeless panhandler, you know? He was a person. He was a dad," says Highfill. “He told me it was an adventure that I’d never understand. I tried to get him to come home with me. Told him he could come live with me. He just couldn’t drink. That bottle had him." His name was Ricky McDonald. On the street he was known as the Guitar Man carrying his #instrument with him playing #songs for strangers and anyone who would listen. He lived in the area of Pike Avenue in North Little Rock for two decades. MORE: https://katv.com/news/local/911-delay-leads-to-homeless-mans-death ----------------------------------------- Stay up to date with our social media: KATV Channel 7 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KATVChannel7 KATV Channel 7 on X: https://twitter.com/KATVNews KATV Channel 7 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katvnews/ Subscribe to KATV on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzDwapMWqoitI9Wv6nA7AYw Have a news tip? Send it directly to us: Email us: newsroom@katv.com Call the Newsroom: 501.324.7760 For more information, visit https://katv.com/ KATV Channel 7 is the local #ABC affiliate serving the central #Arkansas area. From our studios in #LittleRock, Ark. KATV covers national and local news, sports, and weather. This video and all #Sinclair Broadcast Group content archives of local news and sports coverage are available for your use. For more information, contact us at contentsales@sbgtv.com. #KATV #KATVChannel7 #Channel7News #ARnews #breakingnews #breaking #news #ARpx #politics #ARleg #legislature #ARed #education #ARwx #weather #7OnYourSide #7OYS #HogCentral #sports #community #advocacy #crime #violence #living