Nurse Amy Ford: COVID-19 frontline hero allegedly shoots woman in stomach following argument
WILLIAMSON, WEST VIRGINIA: Amy Ford, a 39-year-old nurse from West Virginia, who rose to prominence for her contribution as a Covid-19 frontline worker, has been charged for allegedly shooting a woman in the stomach on Thursday, October 8. The Williamson nurse was heaped with praise by politicians when she traveled to Brooklyn, New York, leaving her family for three weeks to treat Covid-19 patients.
One of her videos which sees her share her experience as a frontline Covid-19 worker went viral in mid-April, after which she was invited to speak at the White House as well as the RNC 2020. "This experience has been one of the most emotionally challenging things that I’ve ever been through, but it has made me a better person in the end," she said during her speech.
She was pictured along with the president and listed on Trump campaign's lineup in the first nights of events at the RNC 2020, according to The Sun.
However, according to the Williamson Daily News, Ford was arrested by the Williamson Police Department and charged for wounding another woman. The incident occurred when an argument ensued between Ford and the other woman on Vince Street on the evening of October 8, according to the complaint filed in Mingo County Magistrate Court.
Williamson Police Chief Grady Dotson confirmed the report saying, "Through the investigation we came to find out that two females got into a verbal argument, turning into one of the females getting a gun. She did shoot the victim one time in the abdomen area." Dotson added, "Amy is well-known around the area for her participation and going over to the RNC committee and a nurse that was helping out with the coronavirus and was on the front line."
The victim was rushed to ARH Hospital in South Williamson, Kentucky, and then "air-lifted to Pikeville Medical Center in Pikeville, Kentucky, where she underwent surgery". The police confirmed that the victim is expected to be "OK".
Meanwhile, Ford has claimed that she shot the other woman in self-defense. Some of the residents have noted that they didn't even hear the gunshot. Beverly Childress, a 40-year-old local resident talked about the incident to WCHS: "I came out here on the porch and saw the sheriff's car and was just wondering what was going on. Since I didn't see or hear anything it didn't really particularly make me nervous. I don't feel threatened. Living right here I don't feel a bit threatened."
Mingo County Magistrate David Justice reportedly arraigned Ford and she was released from police custody with a $5,000 bond.
During the RNC 2020 convention, Ford described herself as a "natural caretaker". She said during the speech, "Even though I was the youngest of four children, I was always somewhat of a caretaker. It came natural for me. So it felt right to follow in my mother’s footsteps and become a nurse." She is also said to have traveled to San Antonio, Texas, during her service as the Covid-19 frontline worker.
Following her speech, the White House wrote, "Amy Ford, a nurse of 17 years from Williamson, West Virginia, is one of the incredible Americans who answered New York's call for help at the height of the crisis."