Crime & Safety
District 303 School Board President Awarded Carnegie Medal
Steve Spurling's heroic actions in helping a domestic victim while out on a walk has earned him a Carnegie Medal.
ST. CHARLES, IL - St. Charles District 303 school board president Steve Spurling, who came to the aid of a woman fleeing a domestic situation last May, has been awarded a Carnegie Medal.
Spurling was among 20 recent recipients across the nation who received a medal from the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission in recognition of their acts of outstanding civilian heroism, according to an announcement made Wednesday. The medal is awarded throughout the United States and Canada to those who risk their lives to an extraordinary degree while saving or attempting to save the lives of others.
The medal was awarded to Spurling because of his actions while out for a walk with his wife, Diane, in the 1000 block of Hunt Club Drive on May 3. During their walk, the couple spotted a 55-year-old woman, who was bloodied and in distress, fleeing her home. They went to the woman's driveway to help her and the woman told them her husband was armed.
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The husband came out and Spurling positioned himself between him and the woman, according to the Carnegie press release. As Diane and the woman walked away from the property, the husband, who was later identified as Scott J. Turyna, followed them. Spurling followed behind Turyna as he also called 911.
Turyna produced a Smith and Wesson .38 caliber 5-shot revolver and began firing in the direction of the two women, police told Patch.
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"One shot went off and then another. It took a second or two for me to register what was happening,” Spurling told Patch in May 2015.
When he did, he quickly grabbed the shooter and tackled him to the ground. He estimates that a total of four shots were fired. Spurling got the handgun and threw it away from the area. He then held the suspect down until police arrived.
The victim ran to a home in the 500 block of Steeplechase Road, screaming that she needed help, police said.
A teenager let the injured woman into the home. The woman was later taken to Delnor Hospital with extensive injuries.
During a search of the home on Steeplechase Road, a bullet was found inside.
“Evidence technicians found that a bullet had gone through the siding of this particular house, passed through the living room and was found in the dining room,” Kintz said. “The juvenile had been in a family room about 30 feet from where the bullet was found.”
The juvenile was not injured. Turnya, 65, of the 400 block of Hunt Club Drive,has since been charged with attempted murder and several other felony charges.
Carnegie Hero Fund Commission Chair Mark Laskow said Carnegie medal awardees or their survivors will receive a financial grant. Throughout the 113 years since the fund was established by industrialist-philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, $38.9 million has been given in one-time grants, scholarship aid, death benefits, and continuing assistance.
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