MAGEE — The Magee police chief praised two officers for their actions during a shooting involving multiple victims last week, saying their quick response helped save the life of a severely wounded victim.
Magee Police Chief Denis J. Borges recognized Officer Ty Easterling and Officer Brandon Cooper for their response to the shooting, which occurred at approximately 12:44 a.m. Aug. 29. One person was later pronounced dead, according to the department.
Easterling located one of the victims inside a vehicle suffering from a severe gunshot wound and significant blood loss. He removed the victim from the vehicle and asked Cooper for a tourniquet, Borges said.
Easterling applied the tourniquet and stopped the bleeding. With ambulances tied up across the county because of multiple shootings, Easterling placed the victim in his patrol vehicle and drove directly to the hospital, the chief said.
The victim was later airlifted to another hospital for additional treatment. A nurse later credited the tourniquet with helping save the victim’s life, according to Borges.
Borges also praised Cooper and the other officers and Simpson County Sheriff’s Office deputies who responded to assist that night.
“This is the side of law enforcement that people do not always get to see,” Borges said, describing officers as counselors, protectors, first responders and problem solvers.
“We train our officers because when seconds matter, there may not be time to wait for someone else,” he said. “That night, Officers Easterling and Cooper handled their business, and their actions made a difference.”
The chief said the response demonstrated the importance of training and cooperation among law enforcement agencies when a community faces a major emergency.
“The more we train, the better we serve,” Borges said.
