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BSR11242016

20 NOVEMBER 25 - DECEMBER 1, 2016 BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP/Photo by Melody Chan Detective Steven McDonald addressing students at St. Patrick Catholic Academy. Hero cop shares story with St. Pat’s students BY MELODY CHAN [email protected] Three bullets and 30 years later, NYPD Detective Steven McDonald is still inspiring others with his story of how he forgave the boy who turned him into a quadriplegic. During an assembly at St. Patrick Catholic Academy, Fourth Avenue and 97th Street, McDonald spoke to third to eighth graders on November 4. “You and I have grown up in a world with too much violence,” he said. Parents, teachers and children in the audience shed tears as he shared his story of how 15-year-old Shavod Jones shot him on July 12, 1986. McDonald was on patrol with Sergeant Peter King in plainclothes at Central Park when they pulled up to Shavod and two younger teenagers. The kids ran away so the two officers split up to go after them. McDonald caught up with the boys first. He questioned them as he waited for King to arrive. He thought he saw a gun hidden in one of the boy’s sock, so he bent down to examine it. At that moment, Shavod pulled out a gun. “Before I could say ‘Don’t shoot’ or push the gun away, the boy pulled the trigger,” McDonald recalled. “I had a quick moment to say a prayer,” he said. “My prayer to God was ‘I don’t want to die.’ My life was in God’s hands.” McDonald closed his eyes as King ran over to him and radioed for help. When back up arrived, King was sitting on the ground, crying and covered in blood, rocking back and forth with McDonald in his arms. McDonald’s wife, Patricia, whom he had married eight months earlier, gave birth to their son Conor, a fourth generation police officer who joined the NYPD in 2010, in January, 1987. She was three months pregnant when McDonald was shot. “He was a beautiful baby and a gift from God,” McDonald said. Eight months after the shooting, McDonald told everyone that he forgave Shavod in a press conference at Bellevue Hospital. “I was angry,” he said. “But all that anger and ill feelings I lived with would have destroyed me. God asked me if I can love the boy who hurt me and I said yes. Once I said yes to God, I was free of all those bad feelings. That’s why I’m here today. You can forgive those who hurt you.” McDonald said his wife encourages him to tell his story to show that there is forgiveness. Thus, once or more each week from September until June, he shares his story with police officers, community groups and children. McDonald also wants to send the message that the Police Department and the community are very close. “Police officers would do anything to save the people of our city,” he said, adding that he hopes students believe the police are here to help them, not hurt them. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to tell my story,” McDonald said. of American youth between the ages of 14 and 21 have gambled in the last year gambled 2x a week or more are at-risk for, or have already developed a GAMBLING PROBLEM 68% 11% 6.5% We would like to recognize the Schools where students and community leaders expressed their support for YOUth Decide 2016: Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Academy, St. Pancras School St. Joseph Catholic Academy and Nazareth Regional High School


BSR11242016
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