PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – Two Ponte Vedra Beach citizens were honored for helping a teen in a stabbing attack at a Ponte Vedra Beach restaurant.
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The Carnegie Hero Fund recognizes people who risk serious injury or death to save others by rewarding them with the Carnegie Medal, North America’s highest honor for civilian heroism.
Each recipient will receive a financial grant too.
Jaclyn Rogé and Kennedy Armstrong were recognized for their roles in saving Rogé‘s daughter, Madison Schemitz, from a stabbing attack on June 3, 2023.
Schemitz was leaving Mr. Chubby’s Wings with Rogé when Spencer Pearson approached and attacked Schemitz with a knife. Pearson stabbed her over 10 times in her back.
Rogé was about 50 feet from them and she ran over to pull Pearson off Schemitz. He stabbed Rogé in the forehead, hand and leg.
Armstrong and a friend pulled into the parking lot and Armstrong tackled Pearson and pinned him to the ground.
While he was pinned, Pearson attempted to cut his own throat, but bystanders got the knife away from him.
Armstrong suffered a cut to his right hand that severed an artery.
Pearson was prosecuted and pleaded guilty to attempted murder and aggravated battery.
Schemitz was left partially paralyzed, Rogé spent four days in the hospital, and Armstrong suffered nerve damage to his hand that required surgery and physical therapy.