Arizona Marine granted valor award after stopping armed robbery in Yuma

James Kilcer was presented with the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office Citizen’s Valor Award during a ceremony on Oct. 26. Kilcer said he was talking to the clerk when the gun-pointing suspect entered the store with two companions. “It was definitely not what I was expecting, but you always have to be ready for that kind of stuff,“ Kilcer told the Yuma Sun. Kilcer, now an Army Yuma Proving Ground civilian employee, said the suspect and his companions were looking at the clerk, not him. “I scanned them for any other weapons and didn’t see any,“ Kilcer said. “I knew he was my guy at that point.“ Kilcer sprang at the suspect, grabbed the gun and hit the suspect in the face with a bag of drinks. Kilcer said he then held the suspect from behind at gunpoint as his two companions ran away. “I guess I was just in the right place at the right time,“ Kilcer said. “I was doing what needed to be done.“ Kilcer says he wouldn’t hesitate to risk his life to protect others again. “Oh yeah, in a heartbeat,“ he said. STORY: