[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 218 (Monday, December 21, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S7893]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING JASON SHUPING

  Mr. TILLIS. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the life and service 
of Concord, NC, Police Officer Jason Shuping, who was tragically killed 
in the line of duty this week.
  Officer Shuping was only 25 years old and had served the Concord 
Police Department for 1\1/2\ years with honor and distinction.
  Officer Shuping and Officer Kaleb Robinson were responding to a 9-1-1 
call for a car crash and an attempted carjacking. Officers Shuping and 
Robinson located the suspect and were prepared to bring him to justice. 
However, when Officer Shuping, Officer Robinson, and a third ALE 
officer approached, the suspect immediately began opening fire.
  Officers Shuping and Robinson were both shot. Additional officers 
arrived on the scene and took out the suspect.
  While Officer Robinson is, fortunately, expected to make a recovery, 
Officer Shuping, tragically, passed away from his injuries.
  Jason Shuping was an outstanding police officer who courageously ran 
to danger to protect residents of Concord.
  He was also a loving son and a husband to his wife Haylee. He was 
active in his community since his childhood. He attended East Rowan 
High School in Salisbury, and he was an honor student and track and 
field athlete at UNC-Pembroke.
  He was a young man with a bright future ahead of him, described by 
those who knew him as a ``gentle soul who made an impact.''
  His hometown paper, the Salisbury Post, noted: ``Whether it was 
staying after practice to provide coaching to a youngster or coming 
back home from college to play the handbell in his church's ensemble, 
you could always count on Jason Shuping.''
  It is no surprise to see the outpouring of love coming from the 
community of Concord to honor his life and service. There have been a 
candlelight vigil and a touching law enforcement escort that brought 
many residents and a long line of American flags proudly displayed.
  As we gather with our families this Christmas, my thoughts and 
prayers will be with the family of Officer Shuping, as well as the 
families of Mount Holly Police Officer Tyler Herndon and Nash County 
Deputy Sheriff Jared Allison, who also lost their lives this month in 
the line of duty.
  Those families are going through an unimaginable period of grief, but 
they should know that the people of North Carolina are forever grateful 
for the selfless service of their loved ones, and I will never forget 
the ultimate sacrifice that they made in answering the call to protect 
others.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Minnesota.

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