Lansdale’s Samantha Blagus was awarded the highest civilian honor by Montgomery County DA Kevin Steele for comforting a dying Tamara Cornelius after witnessing her being fatally shot by her former boyfriend outside of a King of Prussia gas station, writes Vinny Vella for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Blagus stopped to get gas on a warm spring night in 2022 to find Rafiq Thompson arguing with his former girlfriend. After realizing she would have to pay cash, she pulled out of the Exxon gas station, and moments later she heard a gunshot.

While other witnesses ran and ducked for cover, she turned around and drove back.

She went to the mortally wounded Cornelius and stayed with the 31-year-old, holding her hand in her final moments as she spoke to a 911 dispatcher.

“The adrenaline took over,” said Blagus. “I was doing everything I could to make her stay with us. I was trying to be optimistic, and all I wanted was for her to make it.”

Her efforts were recognized with a commendation for exceptional service from Steele on May 21.

Read more about Samantha Blagus receiving the highest civilian honor in The Philadelphia Inquirer.

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Editor’s Note: This post first appeared on MONTCO Today in June 2024.