Paratrooper helps save
shooting victim in NC
Rachael Riley
The Fayetteville Observer
FAYETTEVILLE Spc. Matthew
Connor heard repeated shots fired between noon and 1 p.m. on April 27.
He was not in the field training or on a deployment.
Instead, Connor was at home watching TV with his wife at his apartment
complex near Willowbrook Drive and South Reilly Road in Fayetteville.
I thought they dropped a trashcan or something like that, not anything
really crazy, but it piqued my interest enough, Connor said. Then
I heard five or six consecutive shots right after that and thought,
OK somethings really actually happening right now.
Thats when Connor, a paratrooper with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team,
82nd Airborne Division, let his military training take over.
I went to go see what was going on, and since I had (combat lifesaver)
training and stuff like that, I just figured that it would be best for
me to go handle the situation rather than somebody just panicking in
front of them, cause in infantry, youre trained to handle well under
pressure, said Connor, whos part of the brigades 2nd Battalion, 508th
Parachute Infantry Regiment.
Connor looked out his window and saw a young teenager running down
the hill with a gun in his hand.
The first thing I thought of was, OK, well what if they turn back
around? What if something happens to my wife? What if something happens
to my dogs? Like whoever is around me, whats going to happen?, he
said. So I made sure I armed my wife and was like, OK, just stay here,
and Im going to go see whats going on.
Once he stepped outside, Connor heard the victims wife screaming and
noticed a man was wounded.
Connor helped carry the man downstairs and administered care, placing
pressure on the wound with his bare hands, loosened the mans shirt
and ensured he didnt go into shock.
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When police arrived, he was able to describe the suspects vehicle
a bright red Charger and told authorities he heard two voices.
He said by the time he was giving his statement, police were already
chasing suspects and later caught three people.
The victim, Connor said, was in critical condition for about three
days, but he saw him on crutches about a week and a half later.
The victim and Connor have since moved out of the apartment complex.
And Connor credited his unit leadership listening to his experience,
which he said helped him get promoted sooner and enabled him to purchase a new home to ensure his wife can sleep more safely at night.
Spc. Connors personal example of selfless service and unhesitating,
decisive actions are consistent with the greatest traditions of our
uniformed services and played a pivotal role in saving a life, said
Staff Sgt. Anthony Buchanan, Connors platoon sergeant for the Delta
Company 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment. His actions
are a testament to the training that all paratroopers receive and enabled
him to react without hesitation and perform his duties in a non-commonplace
environment.
And Connor is not the only paratrooper or Fort Bragg
soldier who has helped save a civilians life this year.
In June, Brig.
Gen. David Doyle, outgoing deputy commander of sustainment for the 82nd
Airborne Division, recognized Connor, Sgt. Brandon Alvarez and Pfc.
Sean King.
Alvarez helped rescue a driver and toddler from a smoking
vehicle in April, and Pfc. Sean King helped a gunshot victim in Virginia
earlier this year.
On Sept. 1, the 18th Airborne Corps Tweeted that
Maj. Levi Zok used his belt as a tourniquet to save the life of a driver
in a car accident, with members of the Stoney Point Fire Department
crediting Zoks actions.
[ Asheville Citizen-Times, Asheville, NC, 07 Sep 2020,, Mon, Page A6]
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