Meeting a miracle

Officer describes composure, fortitude of stabbing victim

By John Howell
Posted 4/27/17

By JOHN HOWELL Five people were honored Tuesday night for their lifesaving actions on March 5 when a man entered the Rite Aid at 1201 Warwick Ave. and attacked an 18-year-old Pilgrim High School senior and store employee, who was stocking a cooler, with

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

Meeting a miracle

Officer describes composure, fortitude of stabbing victim

Posted

Five people were honored Tuesday night for their lifesaving actions on March 5 when a man entered the Rite Aid at 1201 Warwick Ave. and attacked an 18-year-old Pilgrim High School senior and store employee, who was stocking a cooler, with a butcher knife.

But Officer Jill A. Marshall, one of those recognized who was the first responder on the scene, calls the victim of the attack the “real miracle” of the attempted murder. The victim, Alyssa Garcia, attended the promotion and awards ceremony in City Council chambers at City Hall.

Marshall was surprised to see her and, out of respect for her privacy, didn’t mention her presence. If others knew, they didn’t indicate it. Only after the ceremony and all but a few lingered was it revealed Alyssa had been in the audience.

“I was almost brought to tears, just seeing her here,” said Marshall.

The Alyssa Marshall saw in the audience is far different from the girl she found in a pool of blood. Marshall said the attack happened just at a change of shifts. She was 15 seconds away, whereas the next nearest unit was in Oakland Beach more than two minutes away. Marshall believes there was more than timing to her presence. She believes she was meant to be there.

Her immediate reaction was to assess the situation and help Alyssa. Alyssa was conscious, lying on the floor. Her arm was severely cut and she had been stabbed multiple times. Nearby was the suspect, Jacob Gallant. He was pinned to the floor by Stanley Bastien, who had wrestled him to the ground after an employee, Connor Devine, using a tote as a shield, with shopping cart pushed Gallant away from Alyssa.

Marshall’s first question was whether Bastien had the suspect under control. At this point the suspect had been disarmed. Marshall said he was quiet and didn’t attempt to fight back. Bastien wasn’t going to let up.

“Man, he’s not going anywhere,” she recalls Bastien saying. She believed him and immediately went to work on Alyssa. She grabbed paper towels and applied pressure to stop the bleeding. One of her first questions to Alyssa was, “Do you know him?” She responded that she had never seen her attacker.

Meanwhile, Peter Lambrechts, the pharmacist who had heard the commotion, saw what was happening and called 911. He rushed gauze and other medical supplies to the scene. Lambrechts, Devine and Bastien were all given lifesaving awards along with the two members of the police force first on the scene.

Marshall worked to comfort Alyssa, rubbing her head and assuring her “everything is going to be all right.”

The second police officer to arrive, Sgt. Margaret McKay, described the scene as “the worst thing I’ve ever seen.” McKay attributed Marshall for taking the initiative.

Marshall said she has been at the sites of accidents and homicides, but this was different. She tried to find words, but rather than describing the horror she focused on Alyssa’s composure and the fortitude she has found in this young woman.

“I really believe I was there for a reason,” said Marshall.

After EMTs arrived they started cutting off her sweatshirt.

“She made me laugh,” recalls Marshall.

Alyssa said the sweatshirt belonged to her boyfriend and she was afraid it was being damaged. Marshall told her not to worry, she promised to buy her another one. She still plans on getting that sweatshirt. Since being released from the hospital, Marshall has visited Alyssa’s home. She’s not only impressed by her supportive family but also Alyssa’s perseverance. She is being cared for by a certified nurse assistant and plans to graduate with her class. During a recent visit, Alyssa showed Marshall her senior prom dress. She hopes to attend the prom.

Marshall questions whether Alyssa will regain the use of one arm. Yet, there’s more to recovery than that.

“She has to rebuild…she looks fantastic. It’s really not about the scars on the outside.”

In her 16 years on the force, Marshall says she has never experienced “such a heartfelt connection” to someone.

“I’ve never met a miracle before,” she said.

At a bail hearing last Friday Superior Court Justice Daniel Procaccini called Gallant, 41, “a danger” and increased his bail from $100,000 with surety to $200,000. Gallant has not made bail and is being held at the Adult Correctional Institutions. A pre-trial conference has been set for May 22. Last Friday, he pleaded not guilty to charges of assault with intent to commit murder, felony assault and/or battery and possession of a knife during the commission of a crime.

According to police, Gallant, who was from Swansea, Mass. and has no criminal record, bought the butcher knife and vowed to himself to kill the next person he saw. No explanation has been given for why he stopped at Rite Aid or selected Alyssa to attack.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here