Walmart workers were 'Padron's angels'

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Lincoln LaMere and Archie Jordy, both managers at Walmart off Interstate Highway 35 and Parmer Lane, are being lauded as heroes by Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo.

LaMere and Jordy helped subdue Brandon Daniel, 24, last Friday morning after he fatally shot Senior Officer Jaime Padron. Padron responded to the Walmart after dispatch received a call about an intoxicated man walking the aisles.

"Jaime wasn't just a uniform to them, he was a face," explained Acevedo.

Without hesitation, LaMere and Jordy took action when Padron was struck in the neck and chest with bullets.  The bullet shot into his chest lodged in his protective vest. It was the one into his neck that ended his life.

"They immediately jumped on that suspect. For their thanks, they had a shot fired at them that whizzed by them. They jumped on that radio. They started calling for help," Acevedo said.

As Padron bled from his neck wound, both men stayed by his side.

"They started telling Jaime, 'Don't fall asleep, wake up, stay here,'" he told the crowd at Wednesday's packed funeral service at Shoreline Church.

Acevedo even went on to call the men angels -- angels who are allowing the police department to not harbor any anger over losing their own.

"They jumped in there. They put their lives at risk for Jaime, for their co-workers and for the responding officers," Acevedo added before having them men join him on the platform.

As the men took the stage, applause rang out and soon they were given a standing ovation for their bravery.

The chief told the crowd both men would be honored in the next week but did not elaborate.

"Thank you for being the angel by his side and being on his side," Acevedo concluded.

Wal-mart has donated $50,000 to a trust fund for Padron's daughters, and another $25,000 to APD, which Acevedo will be used for the Explorers program, in Padron's honor. He said it was something that Padron would have wanted in order to help young people.