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Three Paris residents receive heroism awards after wresting armed suspect at Swaim's Hardware
Summary
The Red River Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution and the city recognized three men — Zachary N. Jones, Cameron W. Canada and Robert L. Swain — for subduing an armed suspect at Swaim's Hardware on Feb. 1, an incident that department officials say likely prevented fatalities.
The city and the Red River Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution presented medals of heroism to three Paris residents for restraining an armed suspect inside the back area of Swaim's Hardware on Feb. 1.
Chief of Police (presenting) and Tom Milson of the Sons of the American Revolution described the incident to the council. According to the citation read at the meeting, at about 1:30 p.m. the armed suspect parked a rented cargo van near Swaim’s Hardware carrying an AR-15-style rifle with a 30-round magazine and a concealed 9 mm pistol. Video footage shown to the council and posted to social media captured the ensuing confrontation, the presenters said.
Witnesses named at the ceremony — Zachary Nolan Jones, Cameron Wayne Canada and Robert Lee Swain — confronted the suspect, wrestled the rifle away and then disarmed and restrained him until a Paris Police Department officer arrived and took custody. The presenter said the store was occupied by about eight to 10 people and that a search of the van led law enforcement to conclude the suspect intended serious harm; the van was examined by a bomb squad. The presenter said the confrontation lasted about three minutes and that the suspect was later arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon; the case is pending prosecution.
Tom Milson, representing the Red River Chapter, presented medals and certificates to Jones, Canada and Swain and thanked them for their actions. Council members and the mayor praised the recipients and thanked the police department for its response.
No legal action or policy change resulted from the presentation; the council received the award presentation as a ceremonial agenda item.
