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Lawing named America's Most Wanted 2008 All-Star
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Published: May 13, 2008
Burke County Deputy Martin Lawing has won "America's Most Wanted" All-Star Contest.
Along with his win, Lawing will receive $10,000 and a moment in the national spotlight.
But getting the spotlight came at a price.
"I never wanted it to happen this way, that's for sure," Lawing said by phone from Atlanta.
Lawing was shot in the neck during a standoff in December. He remains paralyzed from the diaphragm down and is receiving treatment at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Ga., said Sheriff John McDevitt.
Lawing found out he was the winner last week.
Lawing believed he had a good chance of winning the grand prize because of all the people who have supported him and his family since the shooting.
"I would just like to thank everyone, the community, law enforcement, churches and hospital for all their prayers and support throughout my process," Lawing said.
McDevitt, who got the call on May 6 that Lawing had won, and several officers traveled to Atlanta on Wednesday to see Lawing. As McDevitt was with Lawing, he got a phone call from the show's host John Walsh.
McDevitt played off the phone call, telling Lawing someone wanted to talk to him.
"I handed Martin the phone and John Walsh himself told him he won," McDevitt said. A film crew from the show caught the moment on tape. The crew was there under the pretense that it was interviewing the eight finalists for the award, McDevitt said. He said another crew filmed Walsh telling Lawing about the award.
Lawing admits his reaction might not have shown his excitement outwardly but he is excited about the win.
"I'm just happy to still be alive," Lawing said. "It's a difficult thing and it could have gone a different way and I'm just thankful for the prayers and to still be alive."
On Saturday, Walsh will present Lawing with the award during the NASCAR SPRINT Cup Series All-Star Race at Lowes Motor Speedway in Concord.
The show's crew will be in Morganton today filming a re-enactment of the standoff and Lawing's subsequent shooting, McDevitt said.
Lawing said he will finish his therapy on May 21 and likely be home by the end of the month.
Officers in the county are already working on converting the basement of the home of Lawing's in-laws to make it handicap accessible, McDevitt said.
If you want to donate to a fund for Lawing, send them to: Fraternal Order of Police, c/o Martin Lawing Fund, P.O. Box 1216, Morganton, N.C. 28680.
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