WATCH NOW: Yuma County Sheriff honors former Marine
James Kilcer awarded YCSO Citizen's Valor Award - News 11's Cody Lee & CBS 13's Arlette Yousif report
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - The former Marine who stopped an armed robbery at a Foothills Chevron station has received a high honor for his bravery.
Kilcer was in the Chevron minimart on Fortuna Road when a man in a mask tried to rob it. The former Marine knocked one suspect to the ground and detained him until deputies could arrive. Deputies later arrested a second suspect. Both are minors.
Tuesday morning Yuma County Sheriff Leon Wilmot awarded James Kilcer the YCSO Citizen's Valor Award.
“It's kind of overwhelming a little bit because it just kind of feels like you know, being congratulated for doing what everyone's I feel like to think that everyone would have done but at the end of the day though it really feels really good to feel that welcomed by my community,” Kilcer said.
The video of the YPG employee’s actions has now circled the world.
“I’ve been told that family in Australia has seen the video so that's pretty far away and it's kind of kind of breathtaking, a little bit.”
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Kilcer was also recognized by other civic organizations, and he received a big thank you from the parent company of the Chevron station. He's received praise from across the country since surveillance video of this bravery went viral. News 11's Cody Lee and CBS 13's Luis Lopez were the first to talk to him about his actions.
“It's just incredible to have somebody come inside the store to do what he did and not think of himself but think of the cashier that was on duty. Not only for our cashiers but anyone that's in town. It stopped this from continuing,” Chevron general manager, Jon Bornt said.
On top of all of that, News 11 got a call from Houstons Yuma Furniture saying they’d like to gift Kilcer with brand new living room furniture. He plans to turn around and donate it to Amberly’s Place.
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As for the suspects, deputies arrested two of them last week. A third is still on the run.
Stay with KYMA.com, News 11, and CBS 13 for continuing coverage.
