Sheriff Recognizes Microburst Heroes

Cheer Fusion All Stars owner Connie Allen held back tears Tuesday night as some of her friends, including herself, were recognized for their heroic actions July 8 when a microburst nearly obliterated her gym at 86 Fleming St.

The Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office organized the event at Spotswood Baptist Church and Senator Bryce Reeves was a keynote speaker who also gave Allen and several other Cheer Fusion parents and county deputies commendation awards.

"It was nice for them to recognize everyone who helped out that day," Allen said.

. The Sheriff's Office said there were 26 people—mostly cheerleaders— in the gym during the microburst.

Mullins said he saw the wind peel off the roof and one of the walls topple. At that moment he thought he was going to die. The roof of the gym was blown about 40 yards away and destroyed a home owned by John Bettis. Several businesses along Fleming Street also sustained heavy damage and remain closed for repairs.

"To me, Heath, you truly are an American hero," said Sheriff Roger Harris.

Detective Ed Lunsford said Mullins made sure all of the adults and cheerleaders were in the secure room and that put himself in danger. Mullins broke his left fibula into 20 pieces and sustained nerve damage in his right hand, where his carpal tunnel was severed, two broken toes, two fractured vertebrae and a bunch of scars and stitches. He said Tuesday night he may need shoulder surgery and that doctors believe he might need a knee replacement in five to 10 years.

"This man made sure everyone was safe before himself," said Lunsford

Sheriff's deputies Franklin Belcher, David Setlock and Jesse Hanrahan were recognized for their actions in helping victims to safety. Dispatchers Laura Knicely, Anne Rodriguez, Carrie Lawson and Ashley Riggleman were recognized for how they handled themselves in the communications center during the storm.

"When disaster struck, we were a team and that's what it's all about," said Sheriff Harris.

Civilian Life Saving Awards went to Cheer Fusion family members Allen, Michelle Smith, Bill Johnson, Mandi Spina, Tammy Boyle, Karen Britton, Jamie Mullins and Eve Davis.

Smith, 47, who served 21 years in the Army, alerted first responders to where everyone was in a small room in the middle of the approximately 7,000-square-foot building. She was ushering people into the safe room before falling debris crushed her ankle, punctured her lung and cracked a few of her ribs. She was in the hospital for five days.

"I never saw them all get into the room," she said. Two deputies carried her out from the debris and brought her to the ambulance.

During the ceremony, pictures of the cheerleaders and the damaged former gym flashed on a large screen in the church. Smith said she was shocked at how much the gym was damaged. No one died from the microburst and no child was seriously injured.

"You do what you're supposed to do," she said about how she helped cheerleaders and parents to safety. "I had my meltdown for like 30 seconds and then I said, 'stop it and calm down.' Then, I just did what I was supposed to do."

Allen said Cheer Fusion this past weekend moved into a 12,000-square-foot warehouse in South Stafford County that is almost double the size of their former gym on Fleming Street.

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