On November 7, 2017, Corporal Seth Kelly and Trooper Ryan Seiple were
making a DUI arrest when the subject became combative. A violent struggle
ensued, and both troopers attempted multiple Taser® weapon deployments
which failed to stop him. During the struggle, the assailant made several
attempts to gain control of the trooper’s weapons in their Safariland duty
holsters, all of which were unsuccessful.
The subject then broke away and ran to his driver side door, produced a .380
handgun and fired six rounds at the troopers. Corporal Kelly was hit with four
of the rounds – twice in the left shoulder, once in the hip and once in the collar
bone on the clavicle notch, which was stopped by Safariland® Summit™ Level
II armor, just ¼ inch from the edge of the vest.
Both troopers were able to return fire and wound the suspect who was later
taken into custody.
Corporal Kelly was airlifted to the hospital, where he went into cardiac arrest
from the blood loss from the round to the hip. Corporal Kelly has made a full
recovery and is returning to full duty in a few weeks. Doctors stated that had
the round to his throat area not been stopped by the vest, they would not have
been able to save him.
We welcome Corporal Seth Kelly, SAVE #2036, to The Safariland Group SAVES
CLUB®.
