SANTA MONICA—On November 4, LA County District Attorney Jackie Lacey honored three people – Amy Harder of Sun Valley, Modesto De Pablo of Santa Monica, and Alejandro Delgadillo Aguirre of Los Angeles – for their brave acts at a Courageous Citizen Awards luncheon, which was hosted by the Rotary Club of Westchester, at the Crowne Plaza Los Angeles International Airport.

According to a press release form the District Attorney’s Office, “Our community grows stronger every time one neighbor lends a hand to help another in distress. These heroes played an important role in the prosecution of three violent criminals. Los Angeles County is a safer place to live because of them,” said Lacey.

Deputy Attorney Michael Blake, of the Crimes Against Peace Officers Section, presented an award to Amy Harder, who witnessed her boyfriend killing and hiding the bodies of his two roommates on July 2, 2011. Ms. Harder called and assisted the police in the capture of her boyfriend in spite of her fear of retaliation to her and her family from her boyfriend, who suspected that she had informed the police of the killings.

When her boyfriend called for a ride, she agreed and notified the police, who later followed them. When the boyfriend spotted the police following them, he told her to evade the police, so she stopped the car and ran taking the car keys with her. As the boyfriend fled the scene on foot, he shot at the police. After a shootout with authorities,  the boyfriend was arrested.

Richard Doyle, Head Deputy of the Airport Branch Office, presented an award to Mr. De Pablo, who attempted to stop a man from stabbing a co-worker in a grocery store in Santa Monica. A man came in and attacked his wife who was working at the cash register. Mr. De Pablo jumped onto the back of the man, but  was thrown off and narrowly missed being slashed with the knife. The man continued to stab his wife, who did not survive the attack.

Deputy District Attorney Elena Abramson of the Elder Abuse Section presented an award to Mr. Delgadillo, who stopped the beating of a 70-year-old man outside of a gas station in the City of Commerence on June 8, 2015.

On the first attempt, Mr. Delgadillo acting alone put his arms around the man after calling 911. The suspect bit Mr. Delgadillo’s hand until Mr. Delgadillo pulled away. The suspect continued beating the 70-year-old victim. During a second attempt, Mr. Delgadillo with the help of others stopped and held the man down until the sheriff’s deputies arrived and arrested the perpetrator.