Illinois man awarded Carnegie Medal for thwarting attack
PEORIA, Ill. (AP) - A central Illinois man has been awarded the Carnegie Medal for thwarting a knife-wielding man who intended to kill people at a chess club session for children.
The Peoria Journal Star reports that Congressman Darin LaHood awarded the medal on Monday to James Vernon of Morton. The medal is given to someone from the U.S. and Canada who risks their life to a significant degree while saving or attempting to save the lives of others.
Vernon was 75 years old at the time of the 2015 attack at the Morton Public Library. The Army veteran fought then 19-year-old Dustin Brown until the armed man was apprehended, saving the lives of children and mothers. Brown has been sentenced in the attack.
Monday's attendees say they're proud of Vernon's bravery.
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Information from: Journal Star, http://pjstar.com