Nebraska honors Bellevue hero for actions at Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl celebration shooting
Hearing calls to stop a man fleeing from the scene of a shooting that disrupted the end of the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl Championship celebration in February, Paul Contreras reacted. Paul Contreras, a Bellevue man, was awarded for his heroic actions during a shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl Championship celebration in February. He was among those who tackled a man fleeing the scene and held him to the ground while others guarded the firearm until law enforcement arrived. Contreas was given the Nebraska State Patrol Public Service Award for his actions. The award recognises citizens who demonstrate significant public service achievements. Governor Jim Pillen and Col. John Bolduc praised Contrera's actions, stating they brought a situation that could have been horrific to an end.
Published : a month ago by Gina Dvorak, Kevin Westhues in Sports General
LINCOLN, Neb. (WOWT) - Hearing calls to stop a man fleeing from the scene of a shooting that disrupted the end of the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl Championship celebration in February, Paul Contreras reacted.
The Bellevue man was among those who tackled a man to the ground in the chaos as authorities were still working to secure the scene.
On Thursday, Gov. Jim Pillen and Nebraska State Patrol Col. John Bolduc recognized the heroic actions Contreras took that day after attending the parade in Kansas City, Mo., with his family. His instinctive actions — without “one iota of thought for himself” — helped “to subdue a shooter,” the governor said.
Contreras helped hold the suspect down with other bystanders while others guarded the firearm at the scene until law enforcement could arrive, Bolduc said.
For his actions, Contreras was given the Nebraska State Patrol Public Service Award, which “recognizes citizens who demonstrat significant accomplishments regarding public service.”
“Thank you for being there, for taking action,” Bolduc said while presenting Contreras the award.
Contreras’ story made national news with good reason, Pillen said, and brought a situation that could have been horrific to an end.
“It’s an incredible source of pride for all Nebraskans that you acted, and you’re a Nebraskan. We’re incredibly proud of you,” the governor said. “The thing I love about Nebraska and the people of Nebraska is we answer the call to help each other no matter what the circumstances are. You don’t have to know anybody, we just — we jump to it. You answered it beyond the call that many of us could never think of.”
Contreras said he and his family were walking back to their vehicle when they hear what they assumed to be fireworks. It turned out to be gunfire.
“Within 40 seconds or so comes this person — running as fast as they can. No sooner, here comes law enforcement everywhere chasing that person,” he said. “...At that moment, I really didn’t know what was really taking place. It was just a not time to think, just action on my part and Trey’s part, the other gentleman.”
Calling Contreras an “extraordinary Nebraskan,” who answered the question he says is good for all Nebraskans to ask themselves: “What would we do in that moment in time?”
The governor joked that Contreras’ actions may have earned him a spot in Taylor Swift’s suite next year.
“He’s with his family and heard shots, saw somebody running in his direction, and quickly knocked the soup out of him,” Pillen said. “I think you hit him better, harder than Jeff Hanson hit Billy Sims a long, long time ago.”
Topics: Football, NFL, Crime, Super Bowl, Kansas City Chiefs