Missouri Teen Who Aided Wounded Police Officer Honored for Heroism

Bao Zhang
By Bao Zhang
November 22, 2022US News
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Missouri Teen Who Aided Wounded Police Officer Honored for Heroism
Clay County Sheriff Will Akin presents an award to Ava Donegan (L). (Courtesy of Clay County Missouri Sheriff’s Office)

High school student Ava Donegan was on a shopping trip with a friend in October, when she rushed to assist a Missouri Police Department officer who had been shot. Donegan helped tie a tourniquet for the officer and was later honoured for her bravery on Nov. 17.

The 17-year-old and her friend were stopped at an intersection in Excelsior Springs on Oct. 1 when Officer Andrew Stott was shot twice by a wanted suspect.

“Officer Stott ran to the vehicle Ava was in after he was shot. She did not know whether more bullets would fly, but she could see he needed help. He had been shot in the right arm and the left hand. Officer Stott pointed out where his tourniquet was on his outer carrier vest. Ava helped him retrieve it and put it on his wounded right arm,” the sheriff’s office posted on Facebook of the incident.

Scott, 23, was unable to use his radio but Donegan managed to use it for him and informed dispatchers of what happened.

The teenager was honoured with a number of awards for her bravery, including the first-commissioned sheriff’s office challenge coin by Clay County Sheriff Will Akin, as well as a challenge coin by Excelsior Springs Police Chief Greg Dull. Excelsior Springs Mayor Sharon Powell also presented Donegan with a $2,000 scholarship provided by a local Ford dealership.

Donegan spoke humbly at the awards ceremony and said she was grateful for the award.

“I still think anyone would have done it,” Donegan said. “But I’m very grateful to be here.”

Stott has had multiple surgeries due to his injuries and is expected to fully recover, the Courier Tribune reported.

The shooter, Carl Carrel, was fatally shot by other police officers following Stott being shot. The Clay County Prosecutor’s Office is currently investigating the incident, according to the sheriff’s office.

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