Mangano honors Good Samaritan EMT

Volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technician Justin Angell Tuesday received Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano's first Award for Valor.

Angell, 20, an EMT with the Bellmore Volunteer Fire Department and a Merrick resident, was coming to the aid of a car crash victim March 1 when the motorist began shooting, hitting Angell in the torso.

"For his dedication, all of Nassau County is grateful," Mangano said during a ceremony at the County Executive and Legislative building. "The events of that night underline just how dangerous a job it can be . . . to render assistance to others.

"On behalf of Nassau County's 1.3 million residents, I present you this Medal of Valor," Mangano said.

Angell, who is still healing from the wound but said he is in no pain, told the audience he is glad that nobody else was hurt.

When an audience member asked if he considered himself a hero and if he had thought about giving up his volunteer work, Angell replied:

"The real heroes are my brother, Dean, [a volunteer EMT and firefighter] who protected me from further harm with the ambulance, and the other guys who got me to the hospital," he said. "And I never thought about not going back. That kind of stuff usually doesn't happen."

The shooter, Jason Beller, 31, of Commack, fired eight shots from his laser-scoped pistol before he was killed by police, who said they found five guns in the car.

With Angell at the ceremony Tuesday were nine fellow firefighters and his father, Gene Angell, a detective in Nassau's Fifth Squad.