Who Is Ava Donegan?

            My VIP for this week is 17-year-old Ava Donegan who was involved in a terrifying situation that required instant heroism. According to Dave Urbanski, Donegan and her boyfriend were shopping in Excelsior Springs, Missouri. They were stopped at an intersection when two police officers attempted to pull over a driver who had a warrant on him “for assaulting a law enforcement officer.” 

            The wanted man’s truck was just behind Donegan’s car. She saw the police officer get out of the car and then get shot several times. The wanted man shot one police officer in the shoulder and in the hand, and then he was shot in the head by a second officer.

            Donegan had never heard gunshots previously, but she and her boyfriend ducked down when they heard shots being fired. Then there was a wounded officer right in front of her car asking for help with a tourniquet. Donegan said that instinct kicked in when she saw that he needed help. Her hands were soon covered with blood, and blood was on her car.

The “officer complained of feeling numbness,” and his hand was “completely limp.” Donegan helped the officer to remove his vest, put on the tourniquet, and call for help on his radio. She was already “familiar with tourniquets and how to use them” because her father is an ICU nurse. Besides, she plans to go into pre-med.

            The officer needed a second surgery but is expected to recover. The 64-year-old suspect is dead. Donegan is grateful to have been able to help the officer and received “good peace of mind” when she heard that the officer will be okay.