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Heroism Medal Going To Deputy Who Halted Rampage

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Published: December 2, 2008

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Deputy Malachi McCoy

TAMPA - Gov. Charlie Crist will honor a Hillsborough County sheriff's deputy for ending a gunman's rampage and saving the lives of two deputies.

Deputy Malachi McCoy will receive the Medal of Heroism from the governor at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Capitol in Tallahassee.

On June 7, Jorge Orlando Bello Garcia, a former truck driver who had separated from his wife, drove to the Carrollwood rental home where the couple had lived and shot her, a family friend and a Hillsborough Fire Rescue captain, authorities say.

All three died.

When Bello was stopped in his pickup minutes later, he shot deputies Arturo "Art" Lence and Ray Wilson. Bello, also known as George Bello, was trying to wrest Wilson's firearm from him when McCoy ran up and shot Bello in the head, according to the sheriff's office.

McCoy also received the Medal of Honor, the highest award bestowed by the sheriff's office. Wilson and Lence received the Silver Cross.

McCoy, 29, has worked for the sheriff's office since 2000.

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