Cop refrained from shooting back until crowd out of way
By WENDY REEVES
The Huntsville Times
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Six months ago while working an off-duty job, Madison police officer Ray Edwards kept his cool when facing gunfire and a crowd of 40 to 50 people rushing toward him for protection.
Police Chief Daniel Busken recently honored Edwards for his bravery during the Sept. 24 incident with a Citation for Distinguished Service, a top honor in the department.
Edwards was working security at the Shell service station on Wall-Triana Highway. He was monitoring a late-night crowd gathered in the parking lot there after a night of partying at nearby clubs.
“I saw a gray Caprice and heard what I thought was it backfiring at first,” Edwards said. “Then I saw 40 to 50 people all running toward me.”
Edwards saw a man moving through the gas pumps before the man pointed the gun toward him and began firing shots.
“I saw six muzzle flashes pointed at me,” Edwards said. “I was getting ready to draw, but there were so many people in front of me it wasn’t safe, so when I saw the car start to drive out of the parking lot, I ran after it.”
He shouted for the driver to stop.
“When it got into the street, they fired one more shot toward me,” he said.
Then Edwards returned fire, striking the car several times - in the gas tank, tires and door - but not stopping it. The car sped away.
Edwards said one person had been shot in the leg and taken to the hospital by a friend. No one else was hurt.
“Everything happened so fast,” he said. “The training does kick in.”
Busken said a few days later a suspect was arrested, charged with two counts of attempted murder and two counts of shooting into an occupied vehicle.
“Needless to say, had officer Edwards not taken action, others could have been injured or killed,” Busken said.
Copyright 2007 Huntsville Times