Officer wounded in Henry Pratt shooting gets heroes fund grant

AURORA – An Aurora police officer who was wounded in last year’s mass shooting at the Henry Pratt Company plant received some tangible appreciation for his service during a ceremony on Sunday.

Patrol Officer John Cebulski was handed a check for $5,000 and the distinction as the first-ever recipient from the Running 4 Heroes Grant.

Presenting the award was 11-year-old Zechariah Cartledge of Orlando, Florida, who runs a mile in honor of every first-responder in the country to die in the line of duty.

“The sacrifices you and all the officers made at Henry Pratt were truly incredible,” Cartledge told Cebulski. “I truly appreciate what you did on that day. I want to thank you for your service.”

“I’m very humbled,” Cebulski responded. “Zechariah is an inspiration.”

Five police officers, including Cebulski, were wounded in the Feb. 19, 2019 shooting at Henry Pratt.

Five employees were murdered and another wounded by the gunman, who was killed in a shootout with police.

Aurora police Cmdr. Keith Cross, who was present at the scene that day, called the effort by Cartledge “a generous act of kindness and a shining example for young people,” during the ceremony.

Afterwards, Cartledge said he was inspired by the Tunnels to Towers Foundation, which benefits the families of fallen first-responders.

Cartledge said that last year he ran 376 miles in honor of police and firefighters who died in the line of duty. He has already run another 20 miles this year, he said.

“That’s a lot of officers and firefighters that we’ve lost,” Cartledge said.

The young boy said he runs at his local school’s track.

Cebulski and Officer Chris Weaver entered the Henry Pratt building knowing they were looking for a shooter. They made their way to a second floor hallway.

“Out of the corner of my eye I saw him,” Cebulski said.

“I yelled ‘Aurora police!’ because didn’t know if it was a good guy or a bad guy. I got hit in the knee right away.”

Cebulski was able to get into an adjacent room and was ready to protect himself.

“I told myself ‘I’m not going to die,’” Cebulski said. “In my mind I was ready for him.”

Weaver put a tourniquet around Cebulski’s right leg and the wounded officer tightened it himself.

Cebulski said he knew he was bleeding but was confident his wound was not life-threatening. His thoughts turned to his family.

Cebulski’s son Jonas was scheduled to play in a basketball game at Aurora Central Catholic High School that evening.

“I was thinking ‘How can I get this wrapped up and get to my son’s game?’” Cebulski said.

The game ended up being canceled.

Afterward, Cebulski began the road to recovery. The bullet was lodged behind his knee and a blood clot prevented its removal until a few months ago, Cebulski said.

Cebulski said he cannot run and has no lateral movement in the knee. He now serves on restricted duty.

“It’s just going to take some time to get to be where I want to be,” he said.

Of the other four officers wounded in the shooting, James Zeger, Adam Miller and Rey Rivera have returned to full duty. Officer Marco Gomez, like Cebulski, is on restricted duty.

Cebulski said the money from the grant is appreciated and needed.

“We’re not taking the family to Disney World,” Cebulski said. “We’re paying bills.”

With Cebulski was his family, including sons Jonas, Jared and Justin, daughter Jenna and wife Jane.

Jonas has his eye on a career as a firefighter-paramedic.

Cebulski said he is grateful to Cartledge and finds encouragement in the young boy’s efforts.

“If we had more kids like that it would make the world a better place,” Cebulski said.

DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick said a Running 4 Heroes 5K event, in conjunction with the Suburban Law Enforcement Academy, will be held on Sept. 19 at the College of DuPage.