A Fallen Hero by Steven Isaiah Gilliard

 

I was known as being tough and respectful.

I was highly respected by my fellow brothers and sisters.

I pulled a gentlemen over on I-95 for swerving in and out of traffic.

He was acting strange, but I still gave him the benefit of the doubt.

I gave him the benefit of the doubt.

I gave him the benefit of the doubt.

I gave him the benefit of the doubt.

I gave him the benefit of the doubt.

I asked him if he had any weapons on him.

He hesitated and I noticed he was hiding something.

I went to pat him down and he jumped like a rattlesnake!

That gentlemen resisted arrest, had me at gunpoint, and threatened to kill me.

I attempted to disarm him.

We fought on the ground for 30 seconds and I feared for my life.

I got up and I shot him multiple times. Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

The subject shot me near my left armpit and the bullet went through my heart.

I knew that bullet was the fatal shot.

I lost my breath, I was weak, I was bleeding out, and I lost my balance and fell.

I tried calling for backup, but I did not have enough breath to yell.

I died on the scene, I was murdered.

I will never see my wife or children again.

I will never see my children get married or accomplish their dreams.

To the gentlemen that shot me, I was only doing my job.

You ended my life that night.

I am a fallen officer of the state of South Carolina.

My dashcam video is now being shown world-wide for training purposes.

I gave him the benefit of the doubt.

I gave him the benefit of the doubt.

I gave him the benefit of the doubt.

And that guy took advantage of me and took my greatest possession.

He took my life.

Now you will spend the rest of your life behind bars.

My story is presented in the SC Hall of Fame.

After my death, officers now use 9mm and glocks.

I am a hero.

I am Trooper Mark Coates.