Laguna Niguel Deputy Honored for Saving Woman Shot Repeatedly

ALISO VIEJO, CA A woman who shot herself repeatedly is alive today thanks to the heroic efforts of an Orange County Sheriff’s deputy stationed in Laguna Niguel.

Deputy Apryl Soapes was among 28 men and women honored by the sheriff’s department with Medals of Valor. Soapes arrived on scene to find a badly wounded 67-year-old woman, suffering several self-inflicted gunshot wounds. She worked to subdue the woman, while applying pressure to her wounds to staunch the flow of blood. Her efforts saved the woman from bleeding out.

Here is her story of calm under pressure, determination and leadership courtesy of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

Deputy Apryl Soapes Administered Lifesaving Aid to a 67-Year-Old Suicidal Woman

On Monday morning, August 17, 2015, Sheriff’s Dispatch advised Aliso Viejo Deputies that a 67-year-old woman had attempted suicide by shooting herself. Deputies Harald Baella, Stacy Camarena, Juan Lopez and Luis Pereyra responded to the scene. Sergeant Bob Naranjo also responded. Laguna Niguel Deputy Apryl Soapes, working a patrol shift in nearby Laguna Hills, realized she was close to the location of the home in Aliso Viejo and responded as well. When the Aliso Viejo Deputies arrived, they secured the weapon, a Glock handgun, separated the family members for questioning and assessed the condition of the injured woman, immediately requesting paramedics to the scene.

When Deputy Soapes arrived, she realized the woman was in need of immediate treatment. She quickly retrieved towels and began applying direct pressure to two visible wounds on the woman’s chest. The semi-conscious woman began to struggle and yell at the deputies, but Apryl persisted in her attempts to administer first aid to the badly wounded victim. She instructed the other Deputies to carefully restrain the woman’s arms and legs while she continued to apply pressure to the bleeding wounds and resumed her assessment of the woman’s condition. Despite the struggling woman and copious amounts of blood, Apryl was able to locate another gunshot wound and began applying pressure there as well.

When paramedics arrived, the woman was still flailing about and losing blood. Apryl asked the paramedics for more bandages and the paramedics moved in to assist. As they cut away the woman’s shirt sleeve, Apryl discovered two more bleeding wounds in the woman’s armpit. She used her knee to keep pressure on the newly discovered wounds while maintaining pressure on the chest wounds. In total, the woman had five entry and exit wounds. Apryl assisted the paramedics place bandages on the wounds and helped lift the woman onto a gurney for transport.

At the hospital, the woman underwent emergency surgery and survived her attempt at suicide. The operating room doctor stated that the woman lost a great deal of blood and would have succumbed to her wounds without the quick, lifesaving efforts of Deputy Soapes.

Photo Courtesy of the orange County Sheriff's Department