By Kallie Cox
Source The Charlotte Observer
Four Charlotte-area police officers — including one who lost his life in the line of duty — received the Medal of Valor from President Joe Biden on Monday for their work during a hostage situation in 2020.
Concord Police Officer Jason Shuping was killed when he and Officer Kaleb Robinson confronted a carjacking suspect in a restaurant parking lot on Dec. 16, 2020. Shuping, 25, had been with the department for less than two years.
Robinson, who suffered minor injuries, and Officers Kyle Baker and Paul Stackenwalt also received medals from Biden.
The officers “fired at the suspect to turn attention away from their colleagues and shielding each other with their own bodies – until they ended the threat,” according to a White House news release. “During the gunfight, Officer Shuping paid the ultimate sacrifice.”
Haylee Shuping accepted the award on her husband’s behalf.
Biden paid a special tribute to Shuping’s family and that of New York firefighter Lt. Jared Lloyd of Spring Valley. Lloyd repeatedly rushed into a burning nursing home to carry out elderly residents in April 2021. Lloyd and his team rescued 112 residents. He died when the building collapsed.
Nine police officers and six firefighters received the award Monday for acts of bravery in the line of duty.
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