Officer Attacked, Disarmed By Murder Suspect, Then Paramedic Jumps Into The Fight

Lt. Otis McKay jumped in the fight to save a Denver Police Officer.

Paramedic Lt. Otis McKay Saves Denver Officer

Denver, CO – A Denver paramedic is being honored for his courageous actions when he rushed to help a Denver police officer who was in a fight for his life.

The incident occurred on June 16, when Paramedic Lieutenant Otis McKay, Jr. and Officer Jonathan Davis responded to 24th and Curtis Streets for a reported assault, according to KDVR.  Upon their arrival, they found two teen-aged victims with severe facial injuries.

They were then advised of a third victim, who was reported to be severely injured, about a block away.  Both Paramedic Lieutenant McKay and Officer Davis rushed to help that victim, and found a man standing over the motionless victim’s body.

Police said that they quickly realized that they might have just ran into a “homicide in progress”.  Officer Davis drew his firearm and ordered the man, later identified as DeJuan Stamps, age 28, to get on the ground.  Stamps refused, and ran at Officer Davis, tackling him and knocking the firearm out of his hand.

McKay rushed to help Officer Davis, and police said that they fought with Stamps for three and-a-half minutes before help arrived.  Other officers joined in, help subdue Stamps, and take him into custody.

Both Paramedic Lieutenant McKay and Officer Davis were injured in the fight, but police said that the paramedic likely saved the officer’s life.

Police said, “Officer Davis and others in the Denver community could have suffered severe injury or death had it not been for Lt. McKay’s recognition of the severity of this situation and willingness to courageously assist officer Davis.”

McKay received the Bill Daniels Neighborhood Hero Award, which is an award given to community members who make heroic efforts to rescue someone.

Linda Childears, president and CEO of the Daniels Fund, said “Lt. Otis McKay demonstrated tremendous courage and suffered injuries while helping police officers detain a dangerous suspect.  We applaud Lt. McKay and all first responders who place themselves in harm’s way to keep our city safe.”

In McKay’s honor, the Daniels Fund donated $1,000 to the Denver Health Foundation for paramedic scholarships.

McKay said, “I was fortunate enough to be there for this one incident, but I believe with my heart that each and every one of our paramedics would’ve done the same thing on any given day. And the Denver Police Department does it 10 times a day.”

The Denver Police Department has said it will present a commendation to McKay ‘at a future awards ceremony’.

The victim who was found lying in the street later died from his injuries.  His name was James Farmer, Jr., age 62, and he was a Good Samaritan who tried to stop the two teens from being attacked.  His family said he was a veteran and had come to the Denver area to look for work to help support his family in Seattle.

Stamps was charged with one count of first-degree murder, one count of first-degree assault, two counts of second-degree assault and one count of third-degree assault.

Thanks to Lt. Otis McKay, Officer Davis was saved while in a fight for his life.

Do you think that the media is giving this hero the attention and the recognition he deserves? Let’s spread the word that this is what a hero looks like.