A good Samaritan who saved a police officer by shooting his attacker was honored by the governor of Arizona on Monday.
Gov. Doug Ducey (R.) presented Thomas Yoxall with an official commendation for his actions last month. Yoxall came upon Trooper Ed Andersson on Jan. 12 while he was trying to fight off a man who had already shot him twice and climbed on top of him to beat him. When the assailant refused to comply with Yoxall's command to stop, Yoxall shot the attacker, killing him.
"Thomas Yoxall showed unbelievable bravery a few weeks ago," Ducey said in a statement. "Today, we're proud to honor him. He's an inspiration."
Thomas Yoxall showed unbelievable bravery a few weeks ago. Today, we're proud to honor him. He's an inspiration. #hero pic.twitter.com/hCotvFxaEK
— Doug Ducey (@dougducey) February 6, 2017
"That morning, I never would have dreamt that I was going to save somebody’s life, let alone take the life of another individual," Yoxall said in a press conference shortly after the shooting. "It is something that will stick with me.
"I don't consider myself a hero. In all honesty, the heroes that day were the first responders who offered aid and comfort to Trooper Andersson, all members of law enforcement that were there on the scene assisting, and on a daily basis, those are the heroes and they always will be."
Ducey praised Yoxall's bravery and thanked him in a series of tweets. "What an example of bravery for all of us," he said. "Thank you, Thomas Yoxall."