Christine Dawn King

Christine Dawn King saved a girl from assault, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, July 28, 2022. The girl, 18 months, was held by her birth father, as he threatened to drop her from a highway overpass about 40 feet above a concrete parking lot. The girl’s mother made several attempts to remove the girl from his grasp but was unsuccessful. King, 52, caretaker, was traveling on the same highway and came upon the scene. She parked, exited her vehicle, and advanced to the assailant. King grasped the assailant about his torso and pleaded with him to give the girl to her. After the assailant refused and threatened to shoot King, she retreated a few steps back, but she continued to ask him to give the girl to her to no avail. The assailant was armed with a concealed handgun. The assailant turned so that he held the girl over a ledge, threatening to drop the girl, and King again grasped him about his torso to prevent him from dropping her. The mother also held onto the girl and told the assailant to hand her over. Police soon arrived, and the assailant gave the girl to an officer, who then handed the girl to King. She then took the girl to her vehicle to safety. The assailant was taken into custody. King and the girl were not injured.