Man gets fired after saving neighbor

Jacksonville FL – 6/18/07

Man gets fired after saving a woman's life.



When a neighbor screamed she'd been shot, the 24-year-old Colin Bruley grabbed his shotgun, ran out and found the victim and began treating her right leg.



The victim, Tonnetta Lee, survived the shooting and her sister praised Bruley's actions. But his employers, the same people who own the Arlington complex where Bruley lives, reacted much differently. They fired him.



Bruley, a leasing agent at the Oaks at Mill Creek, an apartment complex in Jacksonville said he lost his job after being told that brandishing the weapon was a workplace violation, as was failing to notify supervisors after the incident occurred. He'd worked at the Monument Road complex since December and for the owner, Village Green Cos., since 2005.



Bruley said he was acting as a citizen, not an employee, and shouldn't have been punished for trying to protect himself and others. His shotgun was never fired.



"I was expecting work to give me some kind of commendation," said Bruley, 24. "I was totally blown back. It was a crisis that most people don't go through."



Andrea Roebker, the company's director of public relations, said "We're not in a position to discuss any employment issues outside of the employee and declined to comment further, citing confidentiality rules.



The company said Bruley had violated several company policies found in an employee handbook. One policy prohibits any type of weapons being used in the workplace. The complaint cited him for "gross misconduct."



"Colin demonstrated extremely poor judgment in responding to this situation," the company said. "Colin's failure to immediately report this incident ... could have serious ramifications to the property, its associates and residents."



A police report said the shooting followed a domestic quarrel involving Lee, 24, and her boyfriend. Bruley said he was dozing off in his apartment when he heard Lee's screams. He said he then grabbed a 12-gauge shotgun he uses for protection and hunting.


Bruley said that he found the woman bleeding heavily. He handed the shotgun to a neighbor, tied a tourniquet around her right leg and waited for police and rescue to arrive.



"I was kind of in a state of shock. I had blood all over my body," Bruley said.



After the incident, Bruley went back to his apartment to settle down, eventually falling asleep. He said he could have called his supervisor but didn't think she could do anything at the time. He said he was called into the office about 9:30 a.m., gave his account of the incident and then left. He said he was called back that afternoon and told he was fired.



Neighbor Kevin Courson said "Here was a guy trying to do a good deed. He wasn't trying to hurt nobody,”



Erica Jenkins, Lee's sister, said "If it wasn't for him ... she could have lost her leg or died," said Jenkins, 19. "He put his life in jeopardy for someone else."



Bruley said "If I'd lose my job again for helping some girl's life ... I'd do it over and over," Bruley said.



And after all of that, I have one question for the people responsible for firing him – “What would you have wanted him to do if it was you lying on the ground bleeding to death?” Because in the end… he could have done what a lot of people would have done… ignore the screams and wait to hear what happened the following day.



Bruley is a hero and great American. I would encourage everyone to avoid this company. I would sure hate to have one of you living in a community that doesn’t support American values.



The Apartment Community:

Oaks at Mill Creek

653 Monument Rd

Jacksonville, FL 32225

(904) 727-0898



Corporate Offices

30833 Northwestern Hwy., Ste. 300

Farmington Hills, MI 48334

P: 248.851.9600

F: 248.851.6161



And be sure to check their website to see where not to live:

[link to www.villagegreen.com]