CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Authorities reported that three emergency responders in Champaign were stabbed late Thursday night, necessitating hospital treatment for all three. In response, community members are rallying to support them and their families.
Organizations across Central Illinois say they want to make sure the victims can recover physically, mentally and emotionally.
WCIA interviewed Michael Jenkins, co-founder of The Anchor Point, along with Marrisa Siero, a board member of the Champaign Firefighter’s Benevolent Fund. These organizations assist first responders, offering mental health support, with the benevolent fund also providing financial aid.
“They deal with stuff that is somebody else’s worst day, and they do that multiple times in a single shift,” Jenkins said.
According to Champaign Police, the incident began when 23-year-old Trevor Lewis made a call regarding mental health struggles. Firefighters Courtney Moravek and Robert “Bobby” Poynton were the first to arrive at the scene near Neil Street and Buena Vista Drive.
“Made contact with the with the individual who was cooperative, was calm,” said Deputy Chief Greg Manzana.
Then an Arrow Ambulance paramedic came to give further care, and it turned violent. Lewis pulled out a knife, stabbing the three people there.
Police reached the location three minutes afterward. A medical team was already restraining Lewis, while officers took over, allowing the medical crew to attend to the three injured responders.
“Our support extends beyond just our firefighter colleagues; it includes ambulance personnel and everyone impacted by incidents like this,” Manzana stated.
Since 2022, the Champaign Firefighter’s Benevolent Fund has been actively supporting first responders and their families in such challenging situations.
“These are our worst days,” Siero said. “Our worst moments of waking up and hearing a call coming in or getting the news that there has been an accident or an injury, either on duty or off duty.”
Siero is the wife of a firefighter and a board member with the fund. She says they’ve given away more than $50,000 so far and they hope to do more.
“We are here when there are needs such as medical support, additional funding for families. Again, not just for firefighters, but the whole first responder community,” Siero said.
And so is Jenkins — co-founder of Anchor Point. He works with first responders as well as former military to help process the stress they see daily.
“Your typical civilian goes through three to five traumatic events in a lifetime,” Jenkins said. “A typical first responder or military person, 800 in a career.”
Which makes it all the more important to put the focus on mental health.
“The need to talk and get help and just kind of make sense of what you experience is huge,” Jenkins said. “You know, there’s still a ton of stigma we deal with all the time. I mean, as an ex-military guy, we didn’t talk about mental health problems. [We’re] still fighting some of that, but it’s come a long way, thankfully.”
Champaign Fire says Moravek is still in the hospital, but Poynton has been released. The paramedic has been released as well. Champaign County State’s Attorney Julia Rietz says Lewis is set to be in court on Monday.
