Governor of Texas Greg Abbott just announced that he will be awarding the Medal of Courage to a local White Settlement, TX man, Jack Wilson, who shot and killed a gunman that opened fire and took the lives of 2 at a church late December.
The medal is the highest award that can be given to citizens and is given to those who show “great acts of heroism by risking their own safety to save another’s life.”
Wilson will be presented with the well-deserved award by Gov. Abbott at the Governor’s Mansion January 13.
Check it out:
CBS Austin has more to say:
Governor Greg Abbott will present the Governor's Medal of Courage to the man who stopped a gunman in a deadly shooting at a church in North Texas last month.
Jack Wilson is the head of the volunteer security team at West Freeway Church of Christ in White Settlement, Texas, near Fort Worth.
When a gunman opened fire on the congregation on December 29th, Wilson jumped into action and fired a single round at the gunman, killing the gunman, identified as 43-year-old Keith Thomas Kinnunen, and likely preventing further loss of life.
The Washington Examiner gave further details:
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced that he will be giving the state’s highest civilian award to the man who stopped a shooting at the West Freeway Church of Christ.
Jack Wilson, 71, shot and killed a gunman who opened fire in a church seconds after the shooting started, likely saving dozens of lives. Wilson, who is running to be a county commissioner, said he never envisioned he would be in the position where he would have to return fire on an active shooter.
“The events at West Freeway Church of Christ put me in a position that I would hope no one would have to be in, but evil exist and I had to take out an active shooter in church,” Wilson wrote. “I’m thankful to GOD that I have been blessed with the ability and desire to serve him in the role of head of security at the church. I am very sad in the loss of two dear friends and brothers in CHRIST, but evil does exist in this world and I and other members are not going to allow evil to succeed.”
Wilson was lauded as a hero by many, including Abbott. The governor announced that he will award Wilson the Governor’s Medal of Courage on Monday for his bravery and quick response during the shooting. Abbott noted that the award is the highest honor given to civilians by the governor.
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