The veteran EMTs who rushed to the aid of a rookie cop who was shot in Brooklyn said Thursday their instincts kicked in immediately when they saw that an officer was down.
Khadijah Hall was driving with co-worker and friend Shaun Alexander out of a White Castle parking lot at Utica Avenue and Empire Boulevard in Flatbush when they saw Office James Li chasing the suspect.
“I heard two shots and turned to my right and saw a gentleman running down the block,” said Hall, an EMT for 22 years currently out on sick leave.
“And behind him shortly thereafter I saw an officer taking shots at him. About 10 seconds later the officer went down. My friend Shaun said ‘I can’t believe this! You got any gloves?’ It was like cops and robbers!” she said during a news conference at EMS Station 58 in Canarsie, where both women work.
“Immediately, I got out of my car, left it running, my door open, my purse, got my tech bag first aid kit] out of the trunk and went to the aid of the officer that went down about 15 feet away from us. We just went over and start helping. Got his clothes off, got a dressing, apply pressure,” Hall said.
Alexander, a 20-year veteran who had finished her shift for the day, said the officer was calm but complaining of pain, and was fearful he had been more seriously wounded than he was.
“He said, ‘I think I’ve been shot.’ When we got there he was all concerned that he was shot all over. I checked, said, ‘No, you’re OK, you’re gonna be all right.’ Just reassure him, keep telling him that,” Alexander said.
Hall said it was “phenomenal” luck the two women were in the right spot at the right time.
“That first hour is the most important time. I’m just glad that we were there in seconds. It’s amazing,” she said.
Both also modestly downplayed their heroics.
“Even if you don’t have supplies you still know what’s going on. We do this every day. It’s second nature. I don’t feel myself a hero when we do this every day, we’re not the only ones who do this,” Alexander said.
“I’m happy we were there. You don’t think, you just move. We feel good that we were able to help him.”
Hall agreed, saying there was no hesitation.
“There was no second thought about it, it was just get up, get the tech bag, do what we do. It’s who we are. . .it’s something that you’re trained to do, you were there and you just did it. He’s OK and at the end of the day nothing else matters. See something, say something. Do what you can to help,” she said.
Hall’s proud mom praised her daughter as a tough New Yorker who knows her job.
“She’s a real New York City girl. I was so proud. Look at me, I got out of my sickbed to be here. I feel excellent, exulted. Pride, pride, pride. In the way that she was raised, to help others in need of help,” said Mrs. Hall, who politely declined to give her first name.
“She’s more than incredible, she is extraordinary. We’ll let all the family know, she did help an officer that was down.”
Hall’s friend since seventh-grade, retired cop Tanya Williams, 50, a retired cop, was thrilled for her friend.
“My goodness, proud is not the word, I am elated. To see her face on TV and know it was something positive, saving a cop’s life, to snap into action without even really thinking about it. For her to be able to lend assistance and save someone’s life, a police officer’s life, is amazing,” Williams said.
The women were on their way to check out venues for a retirement party they were planning for some co-workers when they came upon Li, who was allegedly shot by Rashaun Robinson, 28, who was later arrested.
Li and his partner had pulled Robinson and another man off an MTA bus after seeing them hop on through the rear doors without paying the fare.
Robinson ran with Li in pursuit, and then wheeled and shot the officer in both legs.