Walter M. Gannon rescued Carolyn E. Gilbert from assault, Elgin, Illinois, January 18, 2008. Gilbert, 50, was in her high school classroom when a 16-year-old boy who had been in the room with her approached her from behind, put a coat over her head, and stabbed her in the eye. The assailant took her to the floor, where he continued to stab her. Gilbert’s screams attracted the attention of Gannon, 55, a teacher who was in an adjoining classroom. Gannon responded to the door of Gilbert’s room and saw the assailant atop her. Entering the room, Gannon shouted at the assailant to get off Gilbert. The assailant stood, dropped the knife, and stepped back. Gannon stood between Gilbert and the assailant as Gilbert regained her footing and fled the room. Ordering the assailant to sit at a desk, Gannon alerted the school office and then remained at the classroom door to keep him from leaving. The assailant was shortly arrested. Gilbert was hospitalized for treatment of serious knife wounds.
82187 – 9322
82187-9322