On Tuesday, Yuma County Sheriff Leon Wilmot will be presenting the quick thinking former Marine, James Kilcer, with the Yuma County Sheriff Office Citizen’s Valor Award.
Kilcer will also be honored with the Yuma County Local Hero Award on October 28, at the First Responders Day event along with 9/11 Ground Zero Police Officer Stacey Goodmen.
Gary Snyder, a leader in the Yuma community and President of the South Yuma County Conservatives praised Kilcer for his heroic effort. “James is not only a local hero, but should become an American icon as he demonstrated an exceptional level of grit, determination, self-sacrifice, and quick thinking in service of others – all the qualities that make this nation great. Yuma is proud of James, and we look forward to celebrating this patriot’s act of courage and good character.”
According to the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office, on October 20, 2021, at approximately 4:30 a.m., deputies responded to an armed robbery report at the Chevron located at 10747 E. North Frontage Road.
Deputies learned that three suspects entered the Chevron, with one of them armed with a handgun. The armed suspect walked next to Kilcer while pointing the weapon toward the cashier when the former Marine acted immediately and disarmed him. The other two suspects fled the area when they witnessed their fellow criminal stopped.
Kilcer was able to detain the suspect he disarmed until law enforcement arrived.
When deputies contacted Kilcer and asked how he was able to take control of the situation, he stated, “The Marine Corps taught me not to [mess] around.”
The suspect detained during the incident was a juvenile and was booked into the Yuma County Juvenile Justice Center for one count of armed robbery and one count of aggravated assault.
On Friday, October 22, 2021, at approximately 10:00 a.m., Yuma County Sheriff’s Office investigators arrested another juvenile involved in this case. The juvenile was booked into the Yuma County Juvenile Justice Center for one count of armed robbery and one count of aggravated assault.