Christopher S. Copeland

Christopher S. Copeland rescued Steven Kennedy from assault, Amarillo, Texas, August 4, 2023. As Kennedy, 40, a police officer, was attempting to arrest a 36-year-old man during a traffic stop, the man ran into a nearby alley, where Kennedy took him to the ground behind an apartment building and the man, faceup beneath Kennedy, reached for Kennedy’s loaded pistol in its holster and said he would kill him. By then, Copeland, 52, master framer, arrived in the alley after hearing yelling and seeing the struggle from outside of his apartment building. Seeing the assailant grasping the gun and Kennedy attempting to keep it in the holster, Copeland moved closer, crouched beside Kennedy, and used both hands to grasp the assailant’s hand, later telling police he was twisting and pulling to try to remove his hand from the pistol. About one second after Copeland intervened, the assailant pulled the trigger and fired the pistol. A bullet grazed Kennedy’s upper leg just inches from Copeland’s left leg. Despite the shot, Copeland remained engaged, kneeling beside Kennedy and continuing to help him hold down the assailant, who, at 6 feet, 3 inches, was three inches taller and about 30 pounds heavier than Copeland. Kennedy held down the assailant’s right hand with his left hand and Copeland, kneeling, grabbed the pistol and handed it to Kennedy. As the assailant continued to struggle, Kennedy became positioned over the assailant’s waist and upper legs, while Copeland was at the assailant’s torso and arms. Kennedy used his radio to share his location for backup officers and returned the pistol to its holster. Copeland remained beside Kennedy, restraining the assailant, until additional officers arrived five-and-a-half minutes after Copeland first acted. Police arrested the assailant, who pleaded guilty to attempted capital murder of a peace officer and possession of a controlled substance, and was sentenced to 50 years in prison. Kennedy recovered after treatment at a hospital. Copeland had scrapes on his left hand and his knees were skinned

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