Border Patrol Agent Hailed a Hero in Synagogue Shooting Honored

NBC San Diego ^ | 1/17 | Erika Cervantes

[nickcarraway]

U.S. Border Patrol Agent Jonathan Morales was named the 2019 Police Officer of the Year. Morales ran after the suspect during the Poway Synagogue shooting in April 2019

U.S. Border Patrol agent Jonathan Morales tells NBC 7 he is humbled by being named the 2019 Police Officer of the Year. He is the first border patrol agent to receive the honor. Morales was selected because of what he did at the Chabad of Poway.

"It's been more than I expected. You know all of these awards and speeches and recognitions, I never knew it would reach all these levels," Morales said.

Morales' life changed on April 27. He was off-duty and attending services at Chabad of Poway on the last day of Passover when he heard gunshots.

ShareExpand In the lobby of the synagogue, a man with an assault rifle killed parishioner Lori Gilbert-Kaye. Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein was shot in the hand, 34-year-old Almog Peretz, and 8-year-old Noya Dahan were also hurt. As the shooting was happening, Morales ran to help.

"It was my duty to protect everyone there and minimize the injuries and casualties," Morales said.

Morales ran towards the shooter with a revolver. As the suspect ran towards his getaway car and sped off, Morales kept firing and hit the car.

"Everything happened really fast, so I didn't have time to think, 'What should I do?'" Morales said.

The shooter was not hit, but was arrested a short time later. Over the past several months, Morales says he still thinks about the shooting every day.

"I'm always replaying it in my mind, it doesn't go away," says Jonathan Morales.

The 20-year-old man charged with the shooting is in jail awaiting trial. He is also facing charges for trying to set an Escondido Mosque on fire.

[Oshkalaboomboom]

Good for him. Last night I watched the movie Richard Jewell and saw what the government does to heroes if they think the hero had ulterior motives. Good thing they didn’t check to see if this hero did something crazy like vote for Trump or belong to the NRA. They might have destroyed him instead.

[TChad]

"I'm always replaying it in my mind, it doesn't go away," says Jonathan Morales.

I hope he can get past that.

[caww]

Certain high intensity events you can’t shake from your mind...the brain has a way of etching these into the mind of ten with stark clarity unlike regular memories. All systems are a go at the highest levels.

Police officers and Hosptial personel etc. of that sort ‘learn’ how to numb themselves to it over time. But even the best efforts can be shaken just when they think they’ve seen it all.

[blondiegoodbadugly]

God Bless Him

Thank you U.S. Border Patrol Agent Jonathan Morales

[golux]

I have had enough of the Hate has no home here signs, and am disgusted by the overwhelming majority of my fellow Jews who believe "no guns allowed" announcements will somehow deter criminals.

And what is the point of registering a firearm? What historically literate Jew would ever register a firearm or apply for a permit? Read Halbrook's GUN CONTROL AND THE THIRD REICH... If you can find a copy!