CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — It was last month when high school senior Gabe Cooley was randomly attacked by another man and repeatedly stabbed in the middle of one of the aisles at the Walmart in Calallen.
His actions are now being commended by Corpus Christi Police as well as one state leader.
"I was walking to check out, and saw a family start running, and I asked them why they were running. They said someone was stabbed," said E.J. Paddock.
Instead of following other customers out of the Calallen Walmart, E.J. Paddock ran towards the danger.
"There was an officer and two other women with him. I ran over there, and the officer asked me if I knew how to apply a tourniquet, so I took off my belt and got down with another woman. We applied it to his arm, then I took off my shirt and we applied to his left leg," said Paddock.
But that's not all the Banquete High School student did to help.
"We saw the person who stabbed him. The officer started to chase after him, and I chased after him to make sure the officer was going to be okay and we got outside. The officer got him on the ground and got him in custody."
Sadly, Cooley would not survive his injures.
The bravery of the E.J.'s actions is not going unnoticed. The teen was recognized during this week's school board meeting at Banquete ISD in which he was presented with a certificate signed by State Representative Abel Herrero as well as a flag flown over the state capitol.
The young man credits his time in the CCPD Police Explorer program for helping him know how to act and remain calm during the entire incident.
"I think we should have more people run towards the fight than away," said Paddock.
It's that selfless way of thinking that he also credits his family for instilling in him.
"My mom, step-dad, and sister are all police officers."
E.J.'s mom, CCPD Captain Trenade Paddock-Roberts said she is no doubt proud of what he did.
"It amazes me, but it also scares me a little because he is 16 and he's my baby," said Paddock-Roberts.
Honored by the commendation, E.J. said there are many others who did their best that day to try and save a life, people he said also deserve recognition despite the outcome of the events.
"The outcome isn't always why you are doing what you are doing. You are just trying to help somebody, and a lot of people run from danger. Here, you ran into help someone in need and that made you different from a lot of kids today," Paddock-Roberts told her son.
E.J. said he plans to join the Marine Corps after high school and is also giving some thought to follow in his mom's footsteps and become a police officer.
"The bravery and selfless actions of E.J. Paddock speak well of him and are to be commended," CCPD officials said.
Paddock also received recognition from the state. The certificate reads in part:
"This certifies that the Texas flag herewith presented to E.J. Paddock in Recognition of Heroic Valor while coming to the aid of someone in need."
