GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Coming up in next week’s issue, two Clay County deputies receive commendations for saving a federal agent who was shot five times last fall in Oakleaf.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations presented Clay County Sheriff’s Office deputies Jacob Hawkins awards on Wednesday for their part in saving Aviation Enforcement Officer Anthony Stokes. CCSO deputy Richard Miller was unable to attend the ceremony due to illness.

Last Sept. 26, Stokes was shot in a Publix parking lot by Thomas Jacob Lewis IV, who took his own life shortly after.

Hawkins and Miller, the first officers on the scene after Stokes’ was wounded, performed emergency first aid on Stokes.

“I put myself in his shoes, I put my brothers and my friends in his shoes,” said Hawkins through teary eyes, as he recalled the day of the shooting. “I’m glad that I was the first one to him, and had the tools at my access to give him that extra step to get to the hospital.”

Stokes, who has since made a full recovery, recalled what happened that day.

“All the right people were in the right places on that day,” said Stokes. “People are calling me a hero, but I’m no hero. I’m just a guy who got shot. Those guys are the ones that are heroes. When the chips were down against me, they came through.”

For the full story, be sure to pick up your copy of Clay Today or read the full story here online.