By Carol Robinson
al.com
LAUDERDALE COUNTY, Ala. — An Alabama firefighter was shot after a bank robbery when she saw a wreck and stopped to help the driver.
Grace McClusky, a Center Star Fire District firefighter in Lauderdale County, was on her way home from work Tuesday when she came upon a crashed vehicle.
“She immediately pulled over to render aid, unaware that the individual involved was engaged in a police pursuit with local law enforcement,” according to Center Star officials in a Facebook post.
“Without hesitation, she acted in accordance with her training, prioritizing the well-being of those in need,‘’ the post read. “Tragically, in the course of her response, she was shot—an unimaginable consequence for simply doing what she has dedicated her life to: helping others.”
The incident also left the suspect dead and a Florence police officer wounded.
The ordeal began shortly before 3 p.m. when Florence police and Lauderdale County sheriff deputies responded to PNC Bank on Cox Creek Parkway.
They had been dispatched to a welfare check involving a man who had reportedly threatened to rob the bank.
As officers and deputies arrived on scene, the man was seen leaving the bank.
At a news conference later, police said the man was reportedly acting erratic.
A vehicle pursuit ensued and ended when the suspect’s vehicle collided with another vehicle on U.S. 72, just east of County Road 323.
After the crash, police said, the suspect got out of his vehicle with a gun and advanced toward law enforcement officer. Gunfire was then exchanged.
One of the officers was struck in the shoulder, and McCluskey was also hit. Both are recovering.
The suspect was pronounced dead on the scene.
The State Bureau of Investigation is leading the investigation.
“We are immensely relieved and grateful to report that Firefighter McClusky is doing well and is now recovering at home,‘’ Center Star officials said. “Her strength and resilience serve as a testament to her character, and we are confident that she will make a full recovery.”
“We ask for the continued thoughts and prayers of our community, not only for Firefighter McClusky but also for the Florence police officer who was injured in the same incident,‘’ they wrote. “Their dedication to serving and protecting others is a reminder of the risks that first responders face every day.”
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