On Monday I will present the Governor's Medal of Courage to man who stopped a gunman in a deadly shooting at a church in North Texas.
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) January 10, 2020
It is the highest award given to civilians by the Governor. https://t.co/bhNyGLQygs
“It is the highest award given to civilians by the governor,” Abbott wrote.
The Governor's Medal of Courage is awarded to civilians who display great acts of heroism, risking their own safety to save the lives of others, KBTX reported.
Wilson served as a reserve deputy sheriff in Hood County from 1980 to 1986. He currently is a Texas Commission on Law Enforcement instructor and also is a license to carry instructor.
Wilson, a deacon of the security team at the West Freeway Church of Christ in White Settlement, returned fire Dec. 29 when a man began shooting in the church. His shot brought down Keith Thomas Kinnunen, of River Oaks. Kinnunen died of his wounds.
More than 240 parishioners were in the church at the time of the shooting, KBTX reported.
"You train, but you hope you never have to go to that extreme," Wilson told reporters Dec. 30. "But if you do, your training will kick in, and that was evident yesterday."
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