Canada mall security officers honored for “unselfish assistance” during mall shooting
Toronto Canada April 16 2019 Yorkdale security guards who helped authorities during an August 2018 shooting at Canada’s busiest mall were among those recognized for “unselfish assistance” by Toronto Police on Sunday.
Security staffers Nigel Penny, Shane Palmer, Luca Aiello and Jordell Wolseley (whose mother accepted on his behalf as he was out of the country) were handed community member awards together “for their teamwork and courage” at Toronto Police headquarters.
Security officer Marco Rotondo, who was operating the mall’s video surveillance system, received a separate award for “his initiative and assistance.”
“It feels very good (to be recognized),” said Penny, 24, of Milton.
“I never expected to get an award for this. I looked at it like it was just another day at work; it was just my duty,” he added. “But being honored for this, is very humbling. I don’t feel (like a hero).”
A 20-year-old man was arrested in Trenton a few days later and charged with a number of offences, including two counts of attempted murder. Police alleged a fight between two groups of men in the mall led to one gunman firing a firearm at least twice.
No one was injured but the shooting led to hundreds of panicked shoppers rushing outside before the mall was locked down and then closed for the rest of that day.
“The scene was one of panic, hysteria and chaos,” said Toronto Police at Sunday’s awards ceremony.
Penny said reports of the shooting came in about 10 minutes before his shift started at Yorkdale while he was still in the staff lunch room.
“There were people running around trying to exit so we actually brought people into our office which is actually a safe space,” he said. “We kind of kept them there until we were able to determine that the scene was safe.”
Penny, who had worked at Yorkdale for about a year before the shooting, said he also helped evacuate mall tenants, customers and aided paramedics and firefighters with two medical calls.
A 20-year-old man was arrested in Trenton a few days later and charged with a number of offences, including two counts of attempted murder. Police alleged a fight between two groups of men in the mall led to one gunman firing a firearm at least twice.
No one was injured but the shooting led to hundreds of panicked shoppers rushing outside before the mall was locked down and then closed for the rest of that day.
“The scene was one of panic, hysteria and chaos,” said Toronto Police at Sunday’s awards ceremony.
Penny said reports of the shooting came in about 10 minutes before his shift started at Yorkdale while he was still in the staff lunch room.
“There were people running around trying to exit so we actually brought people into our office which is actually a safe space,” he said. “We kind of kept them there until we were able to determine that the scene was safe.”
Penny, who had worked at Yorkdale for about a year before the shooting, said he also helped evacuate mall tenants, customers and aided paramedics and firefighters with two medical calls.
