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Hero of the week: Army Veteran takes gutshot to save nearby children
The 59-year-old heard gunshots as he was standing outside of the deli he works at near Fifth Avenue and E. 118th Street, Harlem, New York. Police say that an argument turned violent that evening, which is what caused the shooting.
At around 6 p.m. on July 13th, Army Veteran Wilbert “Tony” Grier held his post by taking a bullet to the stomach.
Wilbert “Tony” Grier posing with his hand on his chin. (Photo by Jason Beeferman for NY Post)
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Making matters worse, children were present just as the shots began to ring out. This prompted Grier to take action.
The deli owner and Grier are both veterans, which they attributed to their swift thinking.
He hurried the kids into a nearby bodega, and stepped back out to evaluate the situation.
Speaking to PIX11, Grier said, “We made sure the kids were hunkered down and we didn’t make our moves to cover ourselves until we knew the children were safe.”
As Grier went back onto the sidewalk, the Veteran felt a punch to his stomach. The shot hit him in his rib cage, leaving a significantly sized hole.
The aftermath of Grier’s injury. (Photo by CBS2)
“We were in Desert Storm together in the same platoon, so we started searching each other for bullet holes.” Grier said to CBS2’s Natalie Duddridge.
He continued to say, “While the bullets were firing, we had to stand in front of the kids until they scrambled to safety.”
The character of a Veteran
Grier survived his injuries and seems to be in good health.
Local Attorney Lambros Lambrou heard what happened to Grier and reached out to him. Lambrou offered the Veteran a vacation to anywhere he wants, to reward his heroic actions.
True to character, Grier accepted the offer and decided to go on a trip to Bristol, Virginia to visit his family.
Lambrou told PIX11 that, “the fact that Grier decided not to go to a tropical island, but instead chose to go down south to visit family is a true testament to his character and speaks volumes on the type of person he is.”
