STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (WJAC) — In a time when the role of law enforcement is being debated nationwide, 6 News has new details on how a Centre County police officer took extreme measures to save a life and help fellow officers during a mass shooting last year.
Amidst a horrific event, the story of one law enforcement officer’s response, -- what he did within just a few moments -- still reverberates.
January 24, 2019, Patton Township Police Officer Brian Shaffer was on a work assignment at the Ramada Hotel in State College when suddenly there's reports of a shooting at the hotel’s bar, P.J. Harrigan’s.
As he headed to the bar area, officials say Officer Shaffer smelled gun smoke and went inside, not knowing if he'd confront gunfire.
He didn’t confront gunfire, but inside the bar, police say one man was dead and two others were wounded -- a male and a female.
The other male gunshot victim would die a day later.
The female, barely alive, 21-year-old Nicole Abrino was shot point blank in the chest.
Officer Shaffer rolled Abrino over to see if there was an exit wound in her back, officials say.
Officer Shaffer had two immediate thoughts: He had to keep Abrino alive and also get information from her on the gunman and where he may be.
To accomplish the first priority, keeping her alive, that’s one element in the extraordinary part of this story.
Officer Shaffer knew he needed to keep the wound covered, but he had no medical gear, so he used his hand to cover the chest wound.
Every time she exhaled, he lifted his hand to let the air out.
Officer Shaffer was also multitasking at the center of the scene where numerous police and first responders were quickly approaching.
As equally as important, he was able to relay important information to other responders.
Abrino survived and is alive today.
The EMS personnel confirmed his actions kept her alive that day.
This past week Officer Brian Shaffer was named one of two law enforcement officers of the year in Centre County.
Officer Shaffer's response is humility.
Shaffer says he wishes he could’ve done more that day and is always training to become a better police officer.
Officer Shaffer was also honored in 2013, a Heroes Award, for subduing a man who was threatening to shoot three other police officers.
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