Dr. Kenneth Atkinson, who died while trying to come to the aid of his wounded neighbor during a , has been awarded a Carnegie Medal for his acts of selflessness and bravery.
Atkinson was killed by on April 4, 2016. Lyons shot his wife, Elizabeth, and his neighbor, Laurie Juergens, as he unleashed a hail of bullets.
Atkinson ran from his home to aid the wounded Elizabeth Lyons, when Kevin Lyons approached and shot him in the head at point-blank range.
The medal is awarded by the Pittsburgh-based Carnegie Hero Fund, which offers awardees or their survivors a financial grant. Atkinson, 65, is one of 19 people recognized Monday by the organization, four of whom died trying to trying to save the lives of others.
Lyons, 47, to life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus 352 years for the rampage.
Atkinson is survived by his wife and two daughters, as well as several grandchildren.
Andrew Carnegie, a Pittsburgh steel magnate, created the Carnegie Hero Fund in 1904 to recognize acts of selfless heroism is the U.S. and Canada. More than $39 million has been given to the awardees or their survivors over the life of the fund, according to the organization.
