Louis G. Lalande saved an indeterminate number of persons from assault, Oshawa, Ontario, December 7, 1999. A man armed with a starter’s pistol entered a bank in a shopping mall and, in a robbery attempt, threatened the tellers with the pistol, which he fired. At least one of the customers dropped to the floor. Lalande, 64, retired steamfitter, was in the mall corridor just outside the bank’s entrance when he heard the shot and was alerted to the robbery attempt. He looked into the bank and saw the customer on the floor and the assailant brandishing the pistol, which he fired again, repeatedly. Lalande picked up a metal folding chair from the corridor and, entering the bank, quickly approached the assailant. He struck the assailant about the head and shoulders with the chair at least twice, stunning him. Three other men then rushed the assailant and took him to the floor, where they held him for police, who arrived shortly and arrested him.
74090 – 8429
74090-8429